Soc 100 - Socialization?

Question 1

Civilizing Process

Answer 1

Gradual social process, whereby behaviour/actions previously considered acceptable or neutral gradually become unacceptable.‘Correct’ behaviour gradually comes to be seen as ‘civilized’ or marking status�

Question 2

Explain the emergence of modern manners

Answer 2

At this time, middle classes growing in wealth and status, as cities emerge and international trade grows.Middle classes needed to distinguish selves from lower classes: develop complex systems of manners to mark selves�

Question 3

What did Elias argue that the rise of modern manners paralleled? Explain?

Answer 3

Elias argues that the rise of modern manners paralleled the rise of the modern state:Growth of central state authority, and reduction of feudal aristocratic powers.State and society become more complex.Increasing amounts of law covering everyday actions�

Question 4

What is required if society increases in complexity?

Answer 4

people need to behave more predictably in order to ensure social stability.Rise of manners helps stabilise society as a whole.Helps establish coherent national culture across wide area�

Question 5

Socialization

Answer 5

The processes of learning that individuals go through during life that teach them how to play role in their societies.Socialisation helps integrate people into broader cultural milieu.

Question 6

What does Talcott Parsons and St Fu argue about socialization processes?

Answer 6

socialisation processes serve the function of integration:By ensuring that everyone behaves the same way and shares the same cultural values and presuppositions, processes of socialisation teach people how to behaveSociety functions better when people are fully integrated, and behave in uniform manner�

Question 7

How do Sy In and Fems criticize Fu St idea of the function of socialization?

Answer 7

Symbolic interactionists criticise Parsons’ failure to explore child’s own interaction in learning. (Piaget, Mead, et al.)Feminists etc criticise functionalist assumption that women are in lower-paid jobs solely because they are socialised to do them: ignores barriers to women who want to take one “higher” jobs�

Question 8

Primary Socialization

Answer 8

The first elements of socialisation that the child undergoes, teaching basic habits that become unconsciously ingrained.Usually takes place in home.

Question 9

Habit Training

Answer 9

babies subject to certain schedules or regular rituals that become unconscious, and built into them�

Question 10

what does prim socialization prepare us for?

Answer 10

it prepares us for basic entry into society, teaching us elementary skills needed to survive.

Question 11

Secondary Socialization

Answer 11

Socialisation that takes place later in life, helping us adjust to new environments such as new jobs.Often deliberately acquired.

Question 12

How is being a parent a form of secondary socialization?

Answer 12

as they give children primary socialisation, they learn roles themselves.Parents & children interact in socialising each other.

Question 13

Anticipatory Socialization

Answer 13

Preparation for joining a new group; we learn the habits, ways of mind, values, and beliefs of a group we expect to join, and start to adopt them consciously.

Question 14

How do disadvantaged teens exhibit anticipatory socialization?

Answer 14

Disadvantaged teens excluded from educational & job opportunities often observed to take on countercultural values in anticipation of joining such groups.

Question 15

Rites of Passage

Answer 15

Ceremonies to mark entry into a group, e.g. citizenship, first drink.

Question 16

Resocialization

Answer 16

Humiliation designed to break down old habits of socialisation so an individual can be reprogrammed to new role.Often marks entry to total institutions.Prisoners in Stanford Experiment.

Question 17

Agents of Socialization

Answer 17

Social institutions that contribute to socialising individuals in different ways.May be used to reinforce exist power structures by socialising people into accepting unequal status.

Question 18

How is the family an agent of socialization?

Answer 18

Most of our earliest socialisation takes place in the family.We imitate our parents, and pick up our values from them.Generally, therefore, we pick up images of gender roles, ideal family, what it means to work etc from our parents.The family is thus an agent of socialisation: it is a social institution aimed at readying us for society.

Question 19

Significant Others

Answer 19

People in social circle whose expectations we most try to meet, and whose opinion is most important to us.Also provide models for our behaviour�

Question 20

What group forms basis of Mead’s significant others?

Answer 20

Peer groups form basis of Mead’s significant others, those whose eyes we view ourselves through: we value ourselves according to the esteem of those closest to us.

Question 21

Total Institution

Answer 21

Insitutions such as prisons, in which every moment of individual’s time is spent under control of institution, cut off from wider society; e.g. prison, military training�Panopticon.Resocialization.Reprogrammed, have identity removed, reduced to a number.

Question 22

How does Class/Race Socialization limit mobility of poorer backgrounds?

Answer 22

People of different economic backgrounds are presented with different possible careers by parents and teachers.Children of wealthier families expect to become lawyers, doctors etc, whilst those of poorer origins expect less.Inequality by group is thus ‘learnt’ by individuals.Like the Hegemony!

Question 23

Deviance

Answer 23

Failure to meet standard social norms.Deviants may be product of inadequate socialisation, e.g. failure to teach basic norms.

Question 24

How are Petty Criminals examples of deviance?

Answer 24

not in open revolt against system, but not fully integrated.

Question 25

What may deviance be the result of?

Answer 25

Deviance may be the result of a feeling of exclusion.If mainstream society appears to exclude you, you may start to identify with countercultural groups.Studies suggest those rejected by mainstream may begin anticipatory socialisation to deviant subcultures.

Question 26

Labelling Theory

Answer 26

Dominant groups create arbitrary rules and restrictions, and label breach of rules as deviant in order to enforce control.Deviance thus created by mainstream, not by the ‘deviants�’

Question 27

What kind of standards do dominant groups set (labelling theory)

Answer 27

deviance is only whatever dominant group says, not inherently “weird.�”

Question 28

What happens when one is labelled as deviant?

Answer 28

Once labelled as “deviant,” people will often embrace their new status, and increasingly identify with subculture.

Question 29

What to Becker is as important as finding out who breaks the rules?

Answer 29

we must examine those who make rules – why do they do this?�

Question 30

Repression

Answer 30

Forcible denial of deep libidinal instincts, due to over-strict socialisation.May result in projection – accusing others of the same desires.

Question 31

Repression may lead to projection. Explain?

Answer 31

accusing other people of the desire that you have been forced to repress.Homophobia is often the result of a repressed homosexual desire projected onto someone else.

Question 32

What did Theodor Adorno discover about people from strict or disciplinarian families, and repression?

Answer 32

People from very strict or disciplinarian families forced as youths to appear strong, to avoid argument/debate, to control libidinal impulses too much.In consequence, they had too much stored-up aggression, and no way to let it out: leads to fear and hatred�

Question 33

What may cause repression?

Answer 33

Excessive Socialization. too much repression causes instincts to be misdirected outwards. Problems!

Question 34

What are some personality traits associated with Fascism from Adorno’s study?

Answer 34

Conventionalism: belief in standard social values.Authoritarian submission: uncritical attitude to leaders.Authoritarian aggression: aggressive attitude to ‘deviants’.Anti-intraception: fear of feelings or imaginative things.Superstition/Stereotyping: belief in rigid “types” of person.Power & toughness: emphasis on strengthDestructiveness & cynicism: general hostility.Projectivity: projection of own aggression into belief that world is dangerous.Sexual preoccupation: undue focus on sex lives of others�

Question 35

What happens if socialization fails, too weak or too strong?

Answer 35

If it’s too weak, we may observe “deviance”.But too much socialisation could lead to repression, projected aggression, and a tendency towards Fascism�!