Sociology 202 - Chapter 5

agents of socialization

various individuals, groups, and organizations that influence the socialization process

anticipatory socialization

process through which people acquire the values and orientations found in statuses they will likely enter in the future

collectivist culture

culture in which personal accomplishments are less important in the formation of identity than group membership

eugenics

control of mating to ensure that “defective” genes of troublesome individuals will not be passed on to future generations

game stage

stage in the development of self during which a child acquires the ability to take the role of a group or community (the generalized other) and conform their behavior to broad societal expectations

gender

psychological, social, and cultural aspects of one’s sexual identity

generalized other

perspective of the larger society and its constituent values and attitudes

identity

essential aspect of who we are, consisting of our sense of self, gender, race, ethnicity, and religion

individualist culture

culture in which personal accomplishments are a more important component of one’s self-concept than group membership

looking-glass self

sense of who we are that is defined by incorporating the reflected appraisals of others

play stage

stage in the development of self during which a child develops the ability to take a role, but only from the perspective of one person at a tim

reflexive behavior

behavior in which the person initiating an action is the same as the person toward whom the action is directed

resocialization

process of learning new values, norms, and expectations when an adult leaves an old role and enters a new one

role taking

ability to see oneself from the perspective of others and to use that perspective in formulating one’s own behavior

self

unique set of traits, behaviors, and attitudes that distinguishes one person from the next; the active source and passive object of behavior

sex

biological/anatomical maleness or femaleness

socialization

process through which one learns how to act according to the rules and expectations of a particular culture

total institution

place where individuals are cut off from the wider society for an appreciable period and where together they lead an enclosed, formally administered life

tracking

grouping of students into different curricular programs, or tracks, based on an assessment of their academic abilities