The Socialization Process. The deciphering of the human genetic code raises the possibility of creating a human being in the laboratory. But would a laboratory product be a human being? Feral children have taught us something about what humans are like growing up without society’s influence. 1. Through socialization, people internalize the expectations of society. Roles, identity, and personality are all learned through the socialization process, which differs by race, gender, and class A. The Nature-Nurture Controversy - From a sociological perspective, our lives are socially constructed. What a person becomes results from an interaction between innate traits and the culture they live within. B. Socialization as Social Control - Socialized people conform to cultural expectations through the process of social control. The patterns established from the predictable behavior of socialized people become the basis for social order. C. Conformity and Individuality - Despite conformity to social patterns, socialization involves individual adaptation to society. Over-conformity can create problems for individuals. D. The Consequences of Socialization - The life-long process of socialization establishes self-concepts, identity, and self-esteem. Socialization: 1. creates the capacity for role-taking, 2. creates the tendency for people to act in socially acceptable ways, and 3. makes people bearers of culture. II. Agents of Socialization 1. Socialization agents are those who pass on social expectations. Many social institutions shape the process of socialization. A. The Family 1. For most people, the family is the first source of socialization. 2. Families pass on the expectations of a given culture, but what children learn in families is not uniform. 3. Diverse family experiences, gender, birth order, and different family structures and processes all influence the socialization process. B. The Media 1. The media include television, print, film, music, video games, radio, and the Internet. 2. The images portrayed in media have enormous influence on social values, societal images, desires, and relationships. 3. The values represented in the media, whether they are about violence, racist and sexist stereotypes, or any number of other social images, have a great effect on what we think and who we come to be. C. Peers 1. Peers are those with whom you interact on equal terms, such as friends, fellow students, and coworkers.
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