Socialization and Groups - Introduction to Sociology

Vocabulary flashcards covering essential terms and concepts from the lecture on socialization, its theoretical perspectives, and agents.

Socialization

The lifelong process through which people learn the norms, values, beliefs, and behaviors appropriate to their society through interaction with others.

Primary Group

A small, close-knit social group—such as family or best friends—characterized by intimate, enduring, face-to-face relationships.

Secondary Group

A larger, more impersonal group formed to achieve specific goals or tasks, such as coworkers or classmates.

Nature

Innate, genetically inherited characteristics present before birth (e.g., temperament, talents, interests).

Nurture

Environmental influences and relationships after birth that shape an individual’s behaviors, choices, and identity.

Functionalism (view of socialization)

Perspective that socialization is essential for transmitting culture, teaching skills and values, and fostering social cohesion and belonging.

Conflict Theory (view of socialization)

Perspective that socialization reproduces inequality by encouraging acceptance of norms and roles that advantage dominant groups.

Symbolic Interactionism

Perspective focusing on face-to-face interaction and symbolic communication; self develops through interpreting how others see us.

Looking-Glass Self

Concept that an individual’s self-image is shaped by how they think others perceive and judge them.

Agents of Socialization

Individuals, groups, or institutions (e.g., family, peers, school) that teach societal norms, values, and roles.

Family (as an agent)

The first and most influential agent of socialization, where children learn language, values, and role expectations modeled by parents.

Peer Group

A social group of similar age or interests that becomes influential during childhood and adolescence, introducing new norms and activities.

School

Formal institution that socializes students to teamwork, schedules, citizenship, and national culture through curriculum and routines.

Workplace

Setting where adults learn the norms, roles, and behaviors associated with specific jobs; each new job brings new expectations.

Mass Media

Communication platforms (newspapers, television, internet) that transmit material and non-material culture to wide audiences.

Formal Institution

Structured organization—such as schools or workplaces—that systematically communicates and reinforces societal rules and roles.

Age Norms

Culturally defined expectations for behavior at various life stages, enforced by laws or social sanctions (e.g., childhood learning, adult work).

Total Institution

Place where people are isolated from society under strict control (e.g., military basic training, prison) to radically reshape identities.

Resocialization

Process of shedding old behaviors and adopting new ones, often occurring within total institutions that impose new values and roles.

Social Learning

The ongoing acquisition of norms, beliefs, and behaviors through interaction with individuals, groups, and social institutions throughout life.