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3: Socialization and Social Interactions

  • Page ID
    2024
    • Anonymous
    • LibreTexts

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    This chapter examines several aspects of socialization and social interaction. In so doing it continues developing the sociological perspective addressed by the previous two chapters, as we will again see the ways in which our social environment shapes our thoughts, actions, and life chances.

    • 3.1: Prelude to Socialization and Social Interactions
      This page examines socialization's influence on attitudes related to hate and prejudice, illustrated by Charlie Howard's tragic murder due to homophobia. It includes personal narratives from Sarah Patton Boyle and Lillian Smith about their experiences with racial prejudice in the South. The page emphasizes that socialization shapes individuals through various interactions, essential for culture and society, affecting thoughts, actions, and life opportunities.
    • 3.2: The Importance of Socialization
      This page highlights the vital importance of socialization in human development, illustrating that absence of social interaction can lead to severe developmental deficits, as seen in cases like feral children and the Harlow monkey experiments. It shows that social isolation negatively impacts cognitive and emotional growth, reinforcing the need for social engagement for proper human functioning and development.
    • 3.3: Agents of Socialization
      This page examines agents of socialization, emphasizing the family's role, particularly its variations based on social class and gender. It explores the influences of schools, peers, mass media, and religion on children's development. The text highlights how schools deliver both formal and hidden curricula, and how peers can exert pressure during adolescence. Moreover, it discusses the effect of mass media on cultural perceptions and youth violence.
    • 3.4: Explaining Socialization
      This page examines socialization theories that shape self-concept and personality development through key theorists like Cooley, Mead, and Freud, as well as Piaget, Kohlberg, Gilligan, and Erikson. Cooley's "looking-glass self" emphasizes how social perceptions influence self-judgment; Mead highlights role-taking; and Freud outlines id, ego, and superego dynamics. Piaget's cognitive stages and Kohlberg's moral reasoning stages are complemented by Gilligan's focus on relational aspects.
    • 3.5: Resocialization and Total Institutions
      This page examines resocialization, a transformative process typically occurring in total institutions like prisons and military camps, where individuals lose personal identity through strict control and uniformity. It often includes degradation ceremonies for promoting conformity. Although resocialization can also happen in positive environments like support groups, it raises ethical questions regarding the methods and objectives of these institutions.
    • 3.6: Social Interaction
      This page explores dramaturgy and impression management in social interactions, comparing them to theatrical performances where roles and statuses influence behavior. It discusses the importance of roles in maintaining social order and the potential for role conflict or strain. The text highlights the social construction of reality through interactions and advocates for better socialization practices to address issues like hate and discrimination.
    • 3.S: Socialization and Social Interactions (Summary)
      This page discusses the importance of socialization in learning culture and shaping behavior. It highlights key theorists such as Cooley, Mead, Freud, Piaget, Kohlberg, Gilligan, and Erikson, who contributed to understanding self-development, personality, cognitive and moral growth, and identity crises. It also examines the role of family and total institutions in socialization and resocialization.


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