The Social Self

1. The Social Self Chapter 5, Section 2

2. Socialization- What is it? • When you are born, there are certain things you are unable to do (i.e. walk, talk). You do not understand various norms. • Through social and cultural environment, individuals are transformed into participatory members of society. • Socialization= interactive process through which people learn the basic skills, values, beliefs and patterns of a society. • Socialization helps us develop a sense of self.

3. Three Theories of Socialization • Tabula Rasa theory: • Developed by John Locke; • Belief that all children are ‘blank slates’, born without personality; • Thus, infants can be molded into any type of individual. • Although most disagree with Locke’s view, many agree with his belief that socialization allows an individual to absorb cultural aspects.

4. Three Theories of Socialization • Looking-Glass Self theory: • Developed by Charles Horton Cooley; • The interactive process by which we develop an image of ourselves based on how we imagine we appear to others; • Others act as a mirror, reflecting back the person we show to everyone else. • Develop personality through interactive process with those around you. • Continual life process– redefine self-image.

5. Three Theories of Socialization • Role-taking Theory: • Developed by George Herbert Mead; • See ourselves through the eyes of others and take on the roles we believe others expect of us; • As an individual gets older, the expectations of society take on greater importance; • These internalized expectations are known as a generalized other. • Develop a sense of self– two parts: ‘I’ (unsocialized, spontaneous) and ‘me’ (socialized).

6. Agents of Socialization Chapter 5, Section 3

7. What is it? • Agent of socialization= groups, individuals and institutions that allow socialization to happen. • Four agents: • Family • Peer group • School • Mass media

8. Agents of Socialization • Both intended and unintended socialization can occur. • Peer group= primary group composed of individuals of roughly equal ages and similar social characteristics. • Mass media= instruments of communication that reach a wide audience without personal contact.

9. Resocialization • Total institution= setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society for a set period of time. • Examples: prisons, boot camp, monasteries, psychiatric hospitals, etc. • Primary concern of these total institutions is to re-socialize members– break from past experiences to learn new values and norms.