Chapter 3: Socialization, the Life Course, and Aging Flashcards
socialization
the social processes through which we develop an awareness of social norms and values and achieve a distinct sense of self
social reproduction
the process whereby societies have structural continuity over time;
an important pathway through which parents transmit or produce values, norms, and social practices among their children
resocialization
the process of learning new norms, values, and behaviors when one joins a new group or takes on a new social role or when one’s life circumstances change dramatically
What are 3 theories of child development and their founders?
The Development of Self - G.H. Mead
Infants and young children develop as social beings by imitating the actions of those around them.
The Looking-Glass Self - Charles Horton Cooley
The notions we develop about ourselves reflect our interpretations of how others see us.
The Stages of Cognitive Development - Jean Piaget
The child’s active capability to make sense of the world within 4 distinct stages of cognitive development where children learn to think about themselves and their environment (sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operational stage, formal operational stage)
cognition
human thought processes involving perception, reasoning, and remembering
social self
the identity conferred upon an individual by the reactions of others;
a person achieves self-consciousness by becoming aware of this social identity
–George Herbert Mead
self-consciousness
awareness of one’s distinct social identity as a person separate from others;
human beings are not born with self-consciousness but acquire an awareness of self as a result of early socialization
generalized other
a concept according to which the individual takes over the general values of a given group or society during the socialization process
–George Herbert Mead
looking-glass self
a theory that proposes that the reactions we elicit in social situations create a mirror in which we see ourselves
–Charles Horton Cooley
What are Jean Piaget’s 4 stages of cognitive development?
Sensorimotor stage (birth-2)
Preoperational stage (2-7)
Concrete operational stage (7-11)
Formal operational stage (11-15)
The first 3 stages are universal but not all reach the formal operational stage
sensorimotor stage
a child’s awareness of his or her environment is dominated by perception and touch
the first stage of human cognitive development
–Jean Piaget
preoperational stage
a child has advanced sufficiently to master basic modes of logical thought
the second stage of human cognitive development
–Jean Piaget
egocentric
the characteristic quality of a child during the early years of life
involves understanding objects and events in the environment solely in terms of the child’s own position
concrete operational stage
the child’s thinking is based primarily on physical perception of the world
the third stage of human cognitive development
–Jean Piaget
formal operational stage
the growing child becomes capable of handling abstract concepts and hypothetical situations
the fourth stage of human cognitive development
–Jean Piaget
agents of socialization
groups or social contexts within which processes of socialization take place
What are 5 agents of socialization?
families schools peer relationships the mass media work
nuclear family
a family group consisting of an adult or adult couple and their dependent children
hidden curriculum
traits of behavior or attitudes that are learned at school but not included in the formal curriculum (ex: gender differences)
peer group
a friendship group composed of individuals of similar age and social status
social roles
socially defined expectations of an individual in a given status or occupying a particular social position
in every society, individuals play a number of social roles (ex: teenager, parent, worker, political leader)
social identity
the characteristics that other people attribute to an individual
self-identity
the ongoing process of self-development and definition of our personal identity through which we formulate a unique sense of ourselves and our relationship to the world around us
gender socialization
the learning of gender roles through social factors such as schooling, the media, and family
race socialization
the specific verbal and nonverbal messages that older generations transmit to younger generations regarding the meaning and significance of race
What are the 5 major stages in the life course?
Childhood (infancy to adolescence) Teenager Young Adulthood (~20-30) Midlife/Middle Age (between young adulthood and old age, ~45-65) Later Life (over 65)
life course
the various transitions and stages people experience during their lives
aging
the combination of biological, psychological, and social processes that affect people as they grow older
social gerontologists
social scientists who study older adults and life course influences on aging processes
disengagement theory
a functionalist theory of aging that holds that it is functional for society to remove people from their traditional roles when they become elderly, thereby freeing up those roles for others
activity theory
a functionalist theory of aging that maintains that busy, engaged people are more likely to lead fulfilling and productive lives
continuity theory
theoretical perspective on aging that specifies that older adults fare best when they participate in activities consistent with their personalities, preferences, and activities from earlier in life
social conflict theories of aging
arguments that emphasize the ways in which the larger social structure helps to share the opportunities available to older adults
unequal opportunities are seen as creating the potential for conflict
life course theory
a perspective based on the assumptions that the aging process is shaped by historical time and place,
individuals make choices that reflect both opportunities and constraints,
aging is a lifelong process,
and the relationships, events, and experiences of early life have consequences for later life
young old
sociological term for persons between the ages of 65 and 74
old old
sociological term for persons between the ages of 75 and 84
oldest old
sociological term for persons age 85 and older
ageism
discrimination or prejudice against a person on the basis of age
