Socialization and Agents of Influence

1. Chapter 4 Socialization

2. What is Socialization? • Agents of Socialization • Family • School • Peer Groups • Work Place • The State • Mass Media The process by which people learn the attitudes, values, and actions appropriate for individuals as members of a particular… culture.

3. Nature vs. Nurture Studies of Identical Twins--Intelligence tests show similar scores when twins are reared apart in roughlysimilar social settings. • --Intelligence tests show quite different scores when twins are reared apart in dramatically different social settings. --Social Scientists emphasize an interaction between biological and environmental factors (socialization)

4. What is Socialization? • The family is the primary agent of socialization. • Socialization by the family begins shortly after birth. • Socialization is typically, but not always, positive. • Video Clip: • Big Daddy

5. Short Film Excerpt: Big Daddy • Parent/Guardians as important agents of socialization at a young age.

6. BARENAKED LADIES LYRICS"What A Good Boy" • [Chorus]I couldn't tell you that I was wrong,chickened out, grabbed a pen and paper, sat down and I wrote this song.I couldn't tell you that you were right,so instead I looked in the mirror,watched TV, laid awake all night.We've got these chains, hang 'round our necks,people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same when temptation calls ...[Chorus]When I was born, they looked at me and said;What a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.And when you were born, they looked at you and said;what a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl, hey • When I was born, they looked at me and saidwhat a good boy, what a smart boy, what a strong boy.And when you were born, they looked at you and said,what a good girl, what a smart girl, what a pretty girl.We've got these chains that hang around our necks,people want to strangle us with them before we take our first breath.Afraid of change, afraid of staying the same,when temptation calls, we just look away.[Chorus]This name is the hairshirt I wear,and this hairshirt is woven from your brown hair.This song is the cross that I bear,bear it with me, bear with me, bear with me,be with me tonight,I know that it isn't right, but be with me tonight.I go to school, I write exams,if I pass, if I fail, if I drop out,does anyone give a damn?And if they do, they'll soon forget 'cause it won't take much for meto show my life ain't over yet.I wake up scared, I wake up strange.I wake up wondering if anything in my life is ever going to change.I wake up scared, I wake up strangeand everything around me stays the same. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/barenakedladies/whatagoodboy.html

7. Aha-ha-ha-ha!He might be a champ of the heavyweights,Or a feller that sells you glue,Or President of the United States,That'd be all right, tooHis mother would like thatBut he wouldn't be President if he didn't wanna be!Not Bill!My boy, Bill! He'll be tallAnd as tough as a tree, will BillLike a tree he'll growWith his head held highAnd his feet planted firm on the groundAnd you won't see nobody dare to tryTo boss him or toss him around!No fat-bottomed, flabby-faced, Pot-bellied, baggy-eyed bullyWill boss him around.And I'm hanged if he'll marry his boss' daughterA skinny-lipped virgin with blood like waterWho'll give him a peckAnd call it a kissAnd look in his eyes through a lorgnette...Hey, why am I talkin' on like this?My kid ain't even been born, yet!I can see him when he's seventeen or so,And startin' to go with a girlI can give him lots of pointers, very soundOn the way to get 'round any girlI can tell him ...Wait a minute!Could it be?What the hell!What if he is a girl?What would I do with her?What could I do for her?A bum with no money!You can have fun with a sonBut you gotta be a father to a girlShe mightn't be so bad at thatA kid with ribbons in her hair!A kind o' sweett and petiteLittle tin-type of her mother!What a pair! my boy bill http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/carousel/soliloquy.htm • BillyI wonder what he'll think of meI guess he'll call me the "old man"I guess he'll think I can lickEv'ry other feller's fatherWell, I can!I bet that he'll turn out to beThe spittin' image of his dadBut he'll have more common senseThan his puddin-headed father ever hadI'll teach him to wrestleAnd dive through a waveWhen we go in the mornin's for our swimHis mother can teach himThe way to behaveBut she won't make a sissy out o' himNot him! Not my boy! Not Bill!Bill... My boy Bill I will see that he is named after me, I will.My boy, Bill! He'll be tallAnd tough as a tree, will Bill!Like a tree he'll growWith his head held highAnd his feet planted firm on the groundAnd you won't see nobody dare to tryTo boss or toss him around!No pot-bellied, baggy-eyed bully Will boss him around.I don't give a hang what he doesAs long as he does what he likes!He can sit on his tailOr work on a railWith a hammer, hammering spikes!He can ferry a boat on a riverOr peddle a pack on his backOr work up and downThe streets of a townWith a whip and a horse and a hack. • He can haul a scow along a canalRun a cow around a corralOr maybe bark for a carouselOf course it takes talent to do that well. • My little girlPink and whiteAs peaches and cream is sheMy little girlIs half again as brightAs girls are meant to be!Dozens of boys pursue herMany a likely lad does what he can to woo herFrom her faithful dadShe has a fewPink and white young fellers of two or threeBut my little girlGets hungry ev'ry night and she comes home to me!I-I got to get ready before she comes!I got to make certain that sheWon't be dragged up in slumsWith a lot o' bums like meShe's got to be shelteredIn a fair hand dressed In the best that money can buy!I never knew how to get money,But, I'll try, I'll try! I'll try!I'll go out and make it or steal itOr take it or die!

8. Mead: Theory of the Selfand “What a Good Boy” http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/carousel/soliloquy.htm • --The self begins as a privileged, central position in a person’s world. • --As a person matures, the self changes and begins to reflect greater concern about the reactions of others. • --Significant Others: Individuals who are most important in the development of the self. • --Role Taking: The process of mentally assuming the perspective of another. • --Generalized Others: The attitudes, viewpoints, and expectations of society as a whole that a child takes into account.

9. What is Socialization? • School • teach children the values and customs of the larger society. have traditionally socialized children into conventional gender roles have traditionally socialized children into conventional gender roles have traditionally socialized children into conventional gender roles :expectations of proper behavior, attitudes and activities by gender.

10. What is Socialization? Workplace Learning to behave appropriately within an occupational setting is a fundamental aspect of human socialization. Workplace Learning to behave appropriately within an occupational setting is a fundamental aspect of human socialization. Workplace Learning to behave appropriately within an occupational setting is a fundamental aspect of human socialization.

11. What is Socialization? • The state has usurped many of the traditional family functions. The state has re-instituted many rites of passage including stipulating the ages at which we are permitted to: drink • The state has re-instituted many rites of passage including stipulating the ages at which we are permitted to: • drink drive vote • marry retire work overtime • The state has re-instituted many rites of passage including stipulating the ages at which we are permitted to: • drink drive

12. Agents of Socialization • Peer Group http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=286&id=1822 • As children grow older, peer groups increasingly assume the role of Mead’s significant others. • can ease the transition to adult responsibilities. • can encourage children to honor or violate cultural norms and values. • Can exert pressure to conform. http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/relationships/peer_pressure.html

13. 1. Pretend that A (in Box 2) is the same length as the bar in Box 1. • 2. Pretend that A (in Box 2) is the same length as the bar in Box 1. • 3. Pretend that A (in Box 2) is the same length as the bar in Box 1. • 4. Answer hesitantly and cautiously. 1 Solomon Asch Source: Kornblum

14. 1. Pretend that A (in Box 2) is the same length as the bar in Box 1. • 2. Pretend that A (in Box 2) is the same length as the bar in Box 1. • 3. Pretend that A (in Box 2) is the same length as the bar in Box 1. • 4. Answer hesitantly and cautiously. 1 2 Source: Kornblum

15. 2 minute video clip • 1/3 of all subjects went along with the group on a majority of trials 1 • ¼ of the group remained independent of the group on all trials • The rest (5/12) conformed on a few of the trials but not on the others. 2 • All felt pressure to conform, ill at ease, upsetting experience. Power of group conformity (Emperor’s New Clothes) • (Ash 1965 Sabini 1995) Source: Kornblum

16. Peer Groups • Peer groups can be a source of harassment as well as support. • Handout Lefkowitz

17. The Self and Socialization • Sociological Approaches to the Self http://shakespeare.palomar.edu/theatre.htm • Goffman: Presentation of the Self • --Dramaturgical Approach: People resemble performers in action. • --Impression Management: The individual slants the presentation of the self in order to create distinctive appearances and satisfy particular audiences. • Video: Trading Places scene 4 vs 6 (notice different audiences/peer groups( 1:30 each)

18. --Dramaturgical Approach: People resemble performers in action. • Goffman: Presentation of the Self • Valentine is aware of this and applies it. http://www.fast-rewind.com/

19. --Impression Management: The individual slants the presentation of the self in order to create distinctive appearances and satisfy particular audiences. • Goffman: Presentation of the Self • Depending on the location, important to appear unthreatening? http://dvd.ign.com/articles/372/372733p1.html?fromint=1

20. http://dvd.ign.com/articles/372/372733p1.html?fromint=1

21. As we will see with “Doing Gender” our identities are constant works in progress and so theoretically, can be changed under the right conditions/ socialization This has implications for social regulation. • Video: Trading Places scene 2, 5 (30 sec, 1 min) http://dvd.ign.com/articles/372/372733p1.html?fromint=1

22. Socialization and the Life Course • Two types of socialization occur throughout the life course. • Resocialization: The process of discarding former behavior patterns and accepting new ones as part of a transition in one’s life. Video: Trading Places Scene 7 (2:40) Notice also new workplace, peer group and resources

23. Socialization and the Life Course • Two types of socialization occur throughout the life course. • Anticipatory Socialization: The processes of socialization in which a person “rehearses” for future occupations and social relationships. Video: Trading Places Scene 11 (3min)

24. Can someone be reformed? Video: Trading Places scene 13 (1:50) (15 5-6 min) A Clockwork Orange http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/1974/

25. Prisoner Re-Entry Social and Policy Implications http://www.secondchanceprogram.org/strive_prog.html http://www.drug-rehabs.com/

26. Deviance/Social Control http://www.cartoonbank.com/CapContest/CaptionContest.aspx?id=91

27. Deviance/Social Control "Yeah, yeah—and I invented the ticket." Scott Gerschwer Redding, Conn. http://www.cartoonbank.com/CapContest/CaptionContest.aspx?id=91