0929 Socialization and the Life Course

Socialization

is a lifelong process in which people learn appropriate attitudes, values, and behaviors.

Sociobiology

is the systematic study of the biological bases of social behavior. In its extreme form, it suggests that all behavior results from genetic or biological factors and places little emphasis on social interaction.

Behaviorism

• B.F. Skinner was one of the most famous behaviorists.

• Behaviourists see the individual as a blank slate that could be written upon through socialization 

• not determined by instinct, but rather by learned

Instinct

an unlearned, biologically determined behavior pattern typical of all members of a species

Reflex

a voluntary response to some physical stimuli.

Drives

that satisfy needs such as sleep, water, and sexual desires.

Behaviorism

 The influence of Heredity

• Studies of Identical Twins 

• Intelligence tests show similar scores

• show that quite twins are reared apart in dramatically different social settings

1. • The interaction of heredity and environment shapes human development

2. The Case of Development 

3. • Emphasize the importance of the earliest socialization experiences for children 

4. • Early

5. • Primates

6. • Harlow showed isolation

The impact of Socialization 

Self:

distinct Identity self us apart

Cooley: Looking-Glass Self

• We learn who we are by interacting with others 

• We base our perception on our interactio

George Hearbt Mead

• In the early months of life, children do not realize that they are separate from

• Shortly, infants start noticing faces

• Gradually, they differentiate people

• When we differentiate ourselves in our minds as objects distinct from everything else, our self has been formed

1. Prepatory Stage (2/3)

2. Play Stage (2-6)

3. Game Stage (7 onwards)

1. Mead: Stages of the self (3)

Preparatory Stage (2-3)

• Children imitate those around them

• Symbols: basis of human communication 

• Up to about the age of 3, kids mimic

Play Stage (3 - 5)

• Children develop skills in communicating through symbols, and role-taking occurs

• Teachers have a significant role in character

• George Mead:Children learn to use language, and other symbols allow them to talk

• Learn the roles, notbist the significant others, including parents, teachers, and schoolmates.

• capable only of play and cannot yet engage in organizational activity.

Game Stage

• begins the early school stage

• they can now join organization 

• they can now rationalize decisions

• anticipate actions of significant and generalized others

1. Impression Management: presentation in order to create distinctive appearcances and satisfy particular audiences

2. Dramaturgical Approach: people resemble perfomers in action

3. goal is to create distinctive appearances and to satisfy particular audiences

4. life is like theathre, there is backstage and frontstage

5. altering presentation of is impression management

6. facework: maintaing proper image that can ensure social interaction 

Evin Goffman: Presentation of the self

Impression Management

presentation in order to create distinctive appearcances and satisfy particular audiences

Dramaturgical Approach

• people resemble perfomers in action

• goal is to create distinctive appearances and to satisfy particular audiences

• life is like theathre, there is backstage and frontstage

• altering presentation of is impression management

• facework: maintaing proper image that can ensure social interaction

1. Freud: self is social product, however,  natural impulsive instincts in constant conflict with societal constraints 

2. Piaget: emphasized stages that human progress through as the self develops

• cognitive development 

3. The life course: socialization continues throughout life

• rites of passage: mean

• Psychological approaches to the self (3)

Freud

self is social product, however,  natural impulsive instincts in constant conflict with societal constraints 

Piaget

• emphasized stages that human progress through as the self develops

• cognitive development 

socialization continues throughout life

• rites of passage: mean

The life course

1. Family

2. School

3. Peer Group

4. Mass Media and Technology

Agents of Socialization