Socialization and Social Interaction Chapter 4/5

Socialization

• How do we learn to be human?
  • Nature vs. Nurture
  • Biological vs. Sociocultural vs. Sociobiology
• Socialization: the process of social interaction that teaches people the intellectual, physical, and social skills necessary to function as a member of society
  • What happens when there is little or no social contact?
  • Socialization is ongoing—starts at birth and ends at death

Developing a self

• Theories of Development
  • *Cooley – looking-glass self
  • *Mead – “I and Me” Theory; Generalized others and Significant others; Preparatory stage, Play Stage, and Game Stage

Socializing agents

• Family (Birth, Partnering, Extended Family)
• Peers
• School
• Media
• Workplace
• Religion
• Economic System
• Political system

Adult vs. Child Socialization

• Aging
  • Physiological changes
  • Changes in Life Stages
• Resocialization
  • exposure to ideas, values, and experiences that challenge previous socialization, causing the person to adapt or change
• Rites of Passage—events or rituals that mark a transition to a new phase or stage

Elements of Social Interaction

• Status-socially defined positions that people occupy
  • roles-the culturally defined rules associated with every status
    • roles strain- conflict within a given status
    • role conflict- conflict between two or more different statuses
  • Ascribed vs. Achieved Statuses
  • Master Status

Groups

• Functions of Groups
  • define boundaries
  • choose leaders
  • make decisions
  • set goals
  • assign tasks
  • control members behavior
• Primary and Secondary Groups
• Reference groups
• Dyads and Triads