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Agents of Socialization

Agents of socialization are individuals, groups, or institutions that influence a person’s social development by teaching them to norms, values, behaviours, and roles expected in their society

What are the Agents of Socialization

1. Family

2. Peers

3. Education

4. Media

5. Religion

6. Workplace

Anticipatory Socilization

The process of learning how to plan the way to behave in new situations

Macrosociology

An approach of sociology that analyzes social system in a large scale

• Wide perspective

• Cornered with studying society as a whole

• Analyze social systems and populations on a larger scale

• Examine large social institutions that individuals belong to 

Microsociology

The study of small groups and individuals within a society

• Small-scale perspective

• Concerned with the role of the individual or small group in society

Norms

Expectations for how you should behave

Values

Shared ideas and standards that are considered acceptable and binding

Roles

The expected behaviour of a person in a particular social position

Positivism

Belief that change is positive for society

Resocialization

The process by which negative behaviour is transformed into socially acceptable behaviour

Social Influence

How you act can be influenced by:

• Family

• Gender

• Culture

• Media

Primary Socialization

The process of learning their basic skills needed to survive in society

Secondary Socialization

The process of learning how to behave appropriately in group situations

Social Role

Social roles are the patterns of behaviour, rights, obligations, and expectations associated with an individual’s position or status in a social structure

Discrimination

Discrimination is extending hate to someone else because they are different than you

Stereotype

An exaggerated view made about a group or class of people

Racism

Based on the notion that some races are superior than others

Sexism

Based on gender

Classism

Based on social or economic class

Prejudice

Prejudice is when someone forms an opinion about a person or group before knowing them, usually based on stereotypes.

Scapegoat

A scapegoat is someone who gets blamed for problems they didn’t cause.

Sociology

The study of society, social behaviour, and the ways in which people interact with groups, institutions, and communities 

What are some of the topics that sociology covers?

Family dynamics, education, religion, politics, effects of social class, race, and gender on individuals and society

Who discovered Structural Functionalism?

Emile Durkheim and Talcott Parsons

What is Structural Functionalism?

To study how social structures function to serve the needs of society

Who discovered Conflict theory?

Karl Marx and C. Wright MIlls

What is conflict theory?

To study how power forces the basis of the relationship between different groups and creates social conflict

Who discovered Feminist Sociology

Dorothy Smith

What is feminist sociology?

To examine conflicts created by gender

Who discovered Symbolic Interactionism?

Charles Cooley, George Herbert Mead, and Max Weber

What is Symbolic Interactionism?

• To study the individual’s role and place within the wider society and how people create their world through social interactions 

• To examine how a physical environment and social structures determine individual behaviour

Who was Erving Goffman

Renowned sociologist who explored the concept of social roles extensively

What is Dramaturgy and Role Performance

Goffman argued that individuals perform roles in everyday life much like actors perform on stage. These performances are tailored to fit the expectations of the “audience” (other ppl) and the social context

What’s Front stage according to Goffman?

Front Stage is where individuals perform their roles in front of an audience, adhering to expected behaviours. For example, a teacher in a classroom acts in a professional and authoritative manner

What’s Backstage according to Goffman?

Backstage is where individuals can drop their public roles and be themselves. For example, the same teacher might relax and express personal frustrations in the staff room

What’s impression management

Goffman emphasized that individuals actively manage the impressions they give to others by controlling their appearance, mannerisms, and speech

What’s Role Distance?

Goffman introduced the concept of role distance, which refers to the way individuals may distance themselves from the roles they are performing. For example, a worker might joke about their job to signal that they don’t fully identify themselves with it

What is the “self” as a social construct?

Goffman argued that the self is not a fixed entity, but is contracted through social interactions and role performances. The way a person presents themselves depends on the context and audience

What’s teamwork in role performance?

Social roles often require cooperation with others to sustain the “performance.” For instance, in a restaurant, the servers and kitchen staff work together to maintain the role of providing a seamless dining experience 

How do Norwegian prisons differ from American prisons

They focus on reintegration to society (restorative justice), rather than punishment (retributive justice)

What’s the main focus of Norwegian prisons

Resocialization

How does the security of Norwegian prisons differ from American prisons

Norway focuses on “dynamic security” where guards can build interpersonal relationships with inmates. 

In America they use “static security” which is an authoritarian approach

What’s the reincarcination rate in Norway?

20%

What’s gender socialization?

The process by which individuals learn and internalize the gender norms and roles expected of them. Begins at birth, reinforced by various agents such as family, media, schools, peers

What are some of the key aspects of gender socialization?

• Family influence

• Media and pop culture

• Peers

• Cultural traditions

Origins of Gender Roles

The origins of gender roles are rooted in a complex interplay of biological, social, cultural, and historical factors

What are the 4 main influences related to gender roles?

1. Biological factors

2. Social and cultural factors

3. Economic and Historical Influences

4. Psychological and identity development 

Abnormal Socialization

Refers to processes in which individuals do not develop the social skills, behaviours, norms, or values typical of their society or culture

What are the causes of abnormal socialization?

1. Dysfunctional Family Environments

2. Peer influence

3. Isolation or neglect

4. Cultural or societal factors

5. Trauma or stressful events

6. Biological or psychological factors

What influenced Michael Jackson’s personality and behaviours

• Experiences with fame

• Abusive father

• Public scrutiny

What did Michael Jackson try to do to reclaim his childhood

Created a ranch for kids called the Neverland Ranch, and he acted like a kid at this ranch.

What is the Learned Theory of discrimination?

Prejudice and discrimination are learned behaviours, acquire through socialization process.

Example: A child raised in a household where racist or sexist remarks are normalized is likely to adopt Camila’s attitudes unless exposed to alternative, inclusive views

What is the Competition Theory of discrimination 

Prejudice and discrimination emerge from competition over limited resources, such as jobs, housing, or political power

Example: Anti-immigrant sentiment often intensifies during economic downturns when native-born workers view immigrants as competitors for employment 

What is the Frustration-Agression theory of discrimination

Prejudice and discrimination arise when people’s frustration (caused by unmet needs or blocked goals) are redirected toward a scapegoat

Example: Post WW1 Germany saw increased anti-Semitic sentiment as Jews were scapegoated for economic hardships and political instability

What’s the ignorance theory of discrimination?

Prejudice and discrimination result from a lack of understanding or knowledge about other groups

Example: Stereotypes perpetuated by media can lead to biases against groups that individuals have never personally encountered

Ableism

Based on assumption of being able-bodied

Ageism

Based on age, especially youths or the elderly

Classism

Based on social or economic class

Homphobia

Based on prejudice or fear of homosexuality

Why was there controversy around Baby Storm

Parents did not reveal the biological sex to anyone outside their immediate family

Why did the Parents not reveal Storm’s biological sex

They wanted Storm to determine their gender identity without societal influences or pressures associated with traditional gender norms