SOC Chapter 6: Socialization and Social Interaction

Socialization

the process of learning how to interact in society by learning the rules and expectations of society

Nature-nurture debate

a longstanding debate over whether behavior results from predetermined biological characteristics or from socialization

Sociobiology

the study of the biological and genetic determinants of social behavior

Instincts

biological or hereditary impulses, drives, or behaviors that require no learning or reasoning

Self

the sense of one’s own identity as a person

Symbolic interaction

the social process that occurs within and among individuals as a result of the internalization of meanings and the use of language

Role-taking

assuming the roles of others and seeing the world from their perspective

Play

according to Mead, a way of practicing role-taking

Significant others

important people in the lives of all people, but especially during childhood socialization

Generalized others

the assumption that other people have similar attitudes, values, beliefs, and expectations, and therefore that it is unnecessary to know a specific individual in order to know how to behave toward that individual

I

the acting, unselfconscious person

Me

the part of the self that sees self as object, evaluates self, and is aware of society’s expectations of self

Mind

the process of using a language and thinking

Looking-glass self

the process through which we develop our identity through imagining how we appear to others

Self-fulfilling prophecy

a prediction that comes true because people believe it and act as though it were true

Presentation of self

the way we present ourselves to others and how our presentation influences others

Dramaturgical approach

an approach to the study of interaction in which interaction is compared to a drama on stage; the importance of setting and presentation of self are emphasized

Account

an effort to maintain the self by explaining the reasons for, or facts surrounding, a behavior

Disclaimer

an aspect of maintaining our presentation of self in which we deny behavior that contradicts how we wish to be viewed

Peer group

an informal or formal group of people who share a similar status and who are usually of similar age

Mass media

forms of communication - such as television, popular magazines, and radio - intended for a large audience

Instrumental role

a role that emphasizes accomplishment of tasks - such as earning a living to provide food and shelter - and is traditionally associated more with men than with women

Expressive role

a role that emphasizes warmth and understanding - rather than action or leadership - and is traditionally associated more with women than with men

Gender identity

one’s internal sense of being male, female, or other genders, as opposed to gender assigned at birth

Resocialization

socialization to a new role or position in life that requires a dramatic shift in the attitudes, values, behaviors, and expectations learned in the past

Mortification of self

stripping the self of all the characteristics of a past identity, including clothing, personal possessions, friends, roles, routines, and so on