What is Socialization and its role in society?
Socialization is the process by which we learn the expectations that society has for each of us. This concept is related to roles, which are the behavior expectations for status that we have. Socialization helps us to form an identity and a personality, or set of behaviors, feelings, predispositions, and beliefs.
In addition to personal benefits, socialization is a form of social control, a process by which we are brought into conformity of the dominant social expectations. It is the basis of order in society.
What is the life course perpective?
How does it relate to socialization?
The life course perspective uses the experiences from a persons life (including the historical and social aspects of events) in addition to the roles and personal attributes of that individual in order to analyze connections and describe influences.
Since socialization occurs from the moment a child is born, and continues past adulthood, the process of learning new roles and adapting to situations is always changing.
Many people undergo rites of passage, which are formal ceremonies or rituals to mark the tranisition from one role to another. Some examples are graduation, weddings, retirement, and promotions. These rites of passage mark a status change, and therefore, a new set of expectations. These roles are learned through observation of others and personal experience.
Why is Socialization interesting to Me?
The development of a person is fascinating! Imagine, every interaction and situation has made us the person that we are today. The expectations of others are learned through socialization. We learn how to act our gender, age, and fill our roles through the help of those around us.
I was team captain of the 2010 WSU women's cross country team. After four years on the team, I can honestly say that the experience has had a huge impact on my life and the way that I interact with others.
The transition from high school athletics to PAC-10 division 1 athetics is a big adjustment, and the socialization with the girls on the team helped me learn my role on the team as a freshman. This allowed me to take on a future role as a captain and senior.
In addition to sports, there were several agents of socialization that have greatly impacted and influenced my life. These are family, religion, peers, the media, schools, and my workplaces. I have come to understand who I am, and sometimes rely on the feedback from others to determine who I am.
Which brings me to my next point, the looking glass theory, by Charles Horton Cooley, states that we have a conception of ourselves based on our interactions with others. This is based on three principles: 1) how we think we appear to others 2) how we think others judge us 3) how the first two make us feel. In my life, I have explored this idea, and find it to be relatively accurate. This theory is part of symbolic interaction.
Contents of this post:
- A link to an article about peer and media influences on girls' self perception
- An image that represents the importance of a parent in the socialization process
- The video called Agents of Socialization
- A link to the "Process of Socialization" webpage
- A link to the Sociology of Sport Journal webpage
- A quote by Steven Pinker, about socialization
Link to socialization article:
This article discusses the influence of peers and media on body image and self-esteem. Both the media and peers are major sources of socialization and have a large affect on youth.
Many studies have focused on the influence of media in the teenage years, but this study shows that even younger girls are negatively affected by the images they see.
As a future registered dietitian, I have a particular interest in body image and how media and other sources influence dieting and food intake. Some of my future clients may be individuals that have tried too hard to conform to society, and have thus impaired their health through disordered eating.
This quote comes from the conclusions of the article:
"Although peer influences have recently been
casually linked to body image concerns in adolescents (Jones,
2004), this study extends these findings to a much younger population.
In addition, we found that appearance television exposure
predicted decrease in appearance satisfaction over 1 year."
To Find out more, visit the article:
Parents' Role in Socialization:
The process of socialization begins at birth and continues throughout life. We are constantly learning expectations from others, as we experience changes in location and status.
Parents, especially mothers in a nuclear family where mom is at home, are the first ones to teach their children how to behave and how to fill their roles as a male or female.
Family is just one agent of socialization, but it is one of the most important!
Image: Perrino, R. (2011)
Agents of Socialization Video:
People or sources that pass on social expectations are known as agents of socialization. They affect the way we dress, act, and our system of beliefs.
This video, by Christian Weise (2010) accurately shows some of the agents of socialization and the influence they have. Ultimately, our personality and identity is determined in a large part by those around us.
Link to the socialization process webpage:
This is a great resource to learn about how we "aquire our cultures, world views, and personalities". It contains a list of topics and a webpage link full of material on that topic. This page also covers rites of passage and has study aids to help learn the material.
Enjoy reading:
Link to the Sociology of Sport Journal:
Have you ever thought that sports were "just for fun"? Well, think again! Sports are a way for us to learn our roles, such as gender and playing on a team. Sports are an agent of socialization.
If you want to learn more about the Sociology of Sports and how sports affect society, visit this website. You will find an abundance of articles, and can search for your favorite topic related to sports:
This link takes you to the sociology of sport journal,
Quote about socialization and innate man:
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