Key terms

Key Terms and Concepts in Socialization

Anticipatory Socialization

  • Definition: Processes through which individuals rehearse for future positions, occupations, and social relationships (p. 87).

Cognitive Theory of Development

  • Jean Piaget's Theory: Child development occurs through four stages, highlighting the progression of children's thought (p. 86).

Degradation Ceremony

  • Definition: A part of socialization in some total institutions where individuals undergo humiliating rituals (p. 88).

Double Consciousness

  • Definition: The division of an individual's identity into two or more social realities, often affecting self-perception (p. 83).

Dramaturgical Approach

  • Erving Goffman's View: Social interaction is likened to theatrical performance, where individuals present themselves in various ways depending on the context (p. 85).

Face Work

  • Definition: Efforts by individuals to maintain a proper image and avoid public embarrassment, as described by Goffman (p. 85).

Gender Role Expectations

  • Definition: Societal norms regarding the behavior, attitudes, and activities deemed appropriate for males and females (p. 90).

Generalized Other

  • George Herbert Mead's Concept: Refers to the societal attitudes and viewpoints that individuals consider in their behavior (p. 84).

Impression Management

  • Definition: The process of altering one's self-presentation to create specific impressions and satisfy different audiences (Goffman, p. 85).

Life Course Approach

  • Research Orientation: Focuses on social factors influencing individuals throughout their entire life span, from birth to death (p. 87).

Looking Glass Self

  • Charles Horton Cooley's Concept: Highlights self-perception as a product of our social interactions with others (p. 83).

Personality

  • Definition: Refers to a person's typical patterns of attitudes, needs, characteristics, and behaviors (p. 80).

Resocialization

  • Definition: The process of discarding former behavior patterns to adopt new ones, often during significant life transitions (p. 88).

Rite of Passage

  • Definition: A ritual that symbolizes the transition from one social position to another (p. 86).

Role Taking

  • Definition: The mental process of assuming another's perspective and responding from that viewpoint (p. 84).

Self

  • George Herbert Mead's Definition: A distinct identity that differentiates one individual from another (p. 83).

Significant Other

  • Definition: An individual who plays a crucial role in a person's development of self, such as a parent, friend, or teacher (p. 84).

Socialization

  • Definition: A lifelong process through which individuals learn the attitudes, values, and behaviors appropriate for their culture (p. 80).

Total Institution

  • Erving Goffman's Term: Refers to an institution that controls all aspects of a person's life under a single authority, such as prisons or military settings (p. 88).