Magic mirror if I only could try to see myself as others would

1. Magic mirrorif I only couldtry to see myself as others would Leon Russell: Magic Mirror

2. C.H. Cooley: looking glass self self other we see ourselves as others see us

3. 3 elements of looking glass self (118): • Imagination of our appearance to the other • Imagination of his judgment • A self-feeling, such as pride or shame

4. Socialization • Nature and nurture • Cultural learning • Socialization and Self

5. Nature and nurture

6. The old debate: nature vs. nature Which is primary in determining human behavior?

7. The newer debate: • Are some human behaviors genetically determined? • Sociobiology: some behaviors (e.g. male dominance) have a genetic basis • No evidence of genetic causality • No instinct in humans; only reflexes

8. Peter Berger For human beings, culture is our nature.

9. Cultural learning • Socialization defined • Theories of child development • Agencies of socialization • Life course

10. Socialization • Lifelong process of social interaction through which people internalize knowledge, attitudes, values, and norms necessary for effective participation in social life • The process of transferring culture from one generation to the next • “Unsocialized” children cases show socialization needed for “human” behavior

11. Theories of child development

12. G. H. Mead: Self, Mind, Society • “…the social conditions under which the self arises as an object.” (42) • Self: the “I” and the “me” • Fully developed self goes through stages: • Imitation: of significant other • Play: taking the role of one other • Game: generalized other, rules of the game • Mind: internal conversation with the generalized other • Society: the norms and values of society are internalized as the generalized other

13. Gender socialization • Gender roles: appropriate behavior for one’s sex • Adults’ expectations affect how they respond to children based on their gender • Toys, stories, media images all powerful influences (Weitzman, et. al. 1972)

14. Agencies of socialization Groups or contexts in which significant socialization takes place

15. Agencies of socialization • Family • Schools • Peer groups • Mass media • Work

16. Social identity • Characteristics that others attribute to an individual • Many dimensions, multiple identities • Self-identity: • How we develop a unique sense of self • This is an active process of self-creation in modern society

17. Berger and Luckman: Primary and secondary socialization • Primary socialization • “The individual…is not born a member of society.” (102) • Definitions of situation are imposed by significant others based on their position and idiosyncracies • These are internalized, form the basis of social identity • This is a dialectic (identification by others/self-identification; external society becomes internal generalized other p. 103-104) • Secondary socialization • “internalization of institutional…’subworlds’” (107) • Formal, specialized • Education as best example

18. The life course • Childhood • Teenage years • Young adulthood • Mature adulthood • Old age

19. What about freedom & individuality? “Society shapes us, yet society also gives us the ability to be free.” Joel Charon