Chapter 5, Socialization and Interaction

Socialization

Learning through interactions with others how to follow social norms and expectations of society

Social Reproduction

The process through which society’s norms and values are passed down from one generation to the next

Resocialization

The process of learning to adapt to new norms and values when entering a new stage of life or a new environment

ex: moving out of your parent’s home

Mead’s Theory of Childhood Development

Explains how children develop a sense of who they are through interactions with other people

Mead argues:

• We are not born with a sense of self or an understanding of how others see us

• We develop self-consciousness through our interactions with others

Mead was interested in how play helps children become more aware of themselves and others, two primary stages:

1) Play Stage: Young children learn by taking on the role of the other or imitating people around them

• By pretending to be someone else, children practice seeing the world from another person’s point of view

2) Game Stage: As children get older, they participate in organized games, such as soccer or baseball

• When children begin to understand the larger rules and expectations of society

According to Mead, we have two parts of our identity: “I” and “me”

• “I”: The spontaneous, impulsive part of you. It reacts in the moment without overthinking

• “Me”: The rule-following part of you that considers the reactions and attitudes of others. Your inner voice that says, “Be responsible”

Agents of socialization

The people and environments that help us learn society’s rules and expectations

• Multiple Influences: We encounter different agents of socialization throughout our lives

Primary Socialization

The stage of socialization that happens from birth until we begin school. During this time we learn foundational skills like:

1) Language and communication

2) Personal Care

3) Manners when interacting with others

During primary socialization, family is the key agent of socialization

First Influence

Family is generally the first agent of socialization children encounter

• Teach us foundational skills

  • Teaches us values, beliefs, and social norms

Hidden Curriculum

The informal lessons students learn at school beyond what is officially taught in class

Total institutions

Settings where people are separated from the outside world and follow strict rules and routines

• same place

• structured routine

• one institution is in charge

ex: Prison

Gender socialization

The process of learning about gender identity and gender roles. We learn society’s expectations about how people of different genders are “supposed to act, look, and behave

Role Strain

When you struggle to manage all of the expectations connected to one status

ex: Carrie is expected to attend class, complete assignments, and study for exams. This all comes from one status: being a college student

Role Conflict

When the expectations connected to two or more statuses compete with eachother

ex: Going to class and being an employee at same time

Primary Groups

A group built around close, long-lasting relationships and share strong, emotional connections

Secondary Groups

A group that is less personal than a primary group and often formed around a specific goal, activity, or task

Formal Organizations

Planned secondary groups that are deliberately created to achieve a specific goal

ex: a soccer league

Key components:

1) Have a clear structure for authority

2) Give members specific roles and responsibilities

3) Have a plan for replacing members if needed

Ideal bureaucracy

Formal organizations designed to complete complex tasks in an organized and efficient way