PraPISMP TESL

TSL1044
Language, Culture and
Society
Theme: Language and Culture
Topic 1.5
Agents of Socialisation
Family,school,massmediaand
religiousinstitutionsandtheir
effectsonlanguage

Socialization:Activeprocesswhereby

humanbeings

Learnhowtobecomemembersofsociety
Developaselforsenseofindividual

identity,and

Learntoparticipateinsocialrelationships

withothers*

SOCIALIZATION

1.

Primarysocialization:
.Occursinchildhood
.Laysfoundationthatinfluencesselfconceptandinvolvementinsociallife

2.

Secondarysocialization:
.Learningthatoccursafterpeoplehave
undergoneprimarysocialization
.Continuesthroughoutlife*

SOCIALIZATION: TWO TYPES

Longstandingdebateoverwhetherhuman

behaviourisoutcomeofbiological
inheritance(nature/instincts)orthesocial
environment(nurture)
Sociologyemphasizesimportanceof

societyandsocialization(nurture)in
humanbehaviour*

NATURE VERSUS NURTURE DEBATE

Studiesofchildrenraisedinisolation:

Demonstrateimportanceofsocialinteractionin
socializationprocess
Studyoninfantsinorphanageandinfantsin
prisonnursery:Demonstratesimportanceof
socialcontactindevelopmentofhumaninfants
Socializationessentialtophysicalwellbeing,
socialcompetenceofinfants,anddevelopment
ofself*

EVIDENCE FOR NURTURE

Childrenneedhumancontact,affection,

andinteractioninordertofullydevelop

E.g.,Anna,Isabelle,neglectedorphanchildren,
thelatterwithdeaf-mutemother
Becausethesechildrenwerenotsocializedat
thepropertime,theirdevelopmentaldisorders
persistedafterattemptstointegratetheminto
society,AnnamuchworsethanIsabelle

The importance of socialization

Mostofourexperiencesareapartofour

socializationexperience

Micro-level-e.g.,parents,friends
Meso-level-e.g.,schoolsandreligion
Macro-level-e.g.,nationaladvertisements
Organizationsandinstitutionsare

dependentuponsocializedpeopletohelp
thempersist:school,bootcamp,
internship,churchschool,etc.

Socialization and the social world

The

Structural-functionalist perspective -different

socializingagentssupportoneanothersocial
harmonysocialorder
The Conflict perspective -differentsocializingagents
haveconflictinggoalssocialconflictsocialchange
Thosewhohavepowerusesocializationtomanipulateothers
intosupportingthepowerstructurethatbenefitstheelite
falseconsciousnessamongsubordinatesocialstrata
Mostindividualshaveverylittlepowertodecideorcontroltheir
futures(notsoiforganized&mobilizedforcollectiveaction-
consciousness)

Socialization and the social world

(contd.)

Socializationinvolvesnotonlylearningabout

othersbutdevelopingsenseofself
Theself:

Isoursenseofindividualidentity
Allowsustounderstandourselves
Allowsustodifferentiateourselvesfromothers
Newbornunabletodifferentiateitselffrom

mother
Differentiationoccursgraduallythroughinteraction*

THE SELF AND SOCIALIZATION

Gesturesandreactionsofothersareamirror

orlookingglassinwhichweseeourselves:

Attentionispaidtoothersgesturesand
reactionstous
Weimaginehowourappearance,manners,and
presentationofselfareregardedbyothers
Ourevaluationofhowwebelieveourselves
judgedbyothersinfluenceshowweviewourself
(e.g.,withpride,embarrassment,etc.)

Ourfirstimagesofselfcomefrom
significantothers(e.g.,parents)andthe
primarygroup(e.g.,thefamily)*

GENDER SOCIALIZATION

AdolescentsocializationAdolescence:Modern

stageoflifebetweenchildhoodandadulthood
Productofindustrializationandmasseducation
Requiresbalancebefoundbetweenautonomyand

conformity,andfreedomandconstraint
Needformanagingtensionbetweenparentsexpectations
ofmaturitywhilesimultaneouslybeingtreatedasachild
Alsoinvolvesanticipatorysocialization:Aspirantsto

particularsocialrolesimaginewhatitwouldbelike
toenactthoseroles*

SOCIALIZATION THROUGH THE

LIFE COURSE

Adultsocialization:Processbywhichadults

takeonnewstatusesandacquirenewand
differentsocialidentities
Canoccurinnewsituationsatwork(e.g.,
newjob)orinprivatelife(e.g.,new
married/divorcedstatus)
Involvesmorefreedomofchoicethan
adolescentsocialization(e.g.,whetherto
marry,havechildren;whichcareerto
pursue,etc.)*

ADULT SOCIALIZATION

Challengesoflateryearsoflife:

Decreasedphysicalabilityandprospectofdeath
inmidstofWesternsocietysdenialofdeath
Negativemediastereotypesofagingandseniors
Loweredprestigethroughlossofusefulroles
andvaluedstatuses(e.g.,workerandspouse)

Challengescreatestatusandidentity

problems

Exacerbatedbysocietyslackofpreparationand
guidancefornewroles(e.g.,retirement,
widowhood)*

SOCIALIZATION AMONG SENIORS

Agentsofsocialization:Individuals,

groups,andinstitutionsthatimpartrange
ofinformationneededforindividualsto
interacteffectivelyandparticipatein
society
Includefamilies,schools,peergroups,
massmedia,religiousinstitutions,etc.
Providebothformalandinformal
training*

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION

Throughcloseinteractionwithparents

andsmallnumberofothers,child:

Learnstothinkandspeak
Internalizesnorms,beliefs,andvalues
Learnsgenderroles
Developscapacityforintimateandpersonal
relationships
Beginstodevelopaselfimage*

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:
FAMILIES

TOP TWELVE CONCERNS OF

CANADIANS

Teachchildrenindirectlytobeless

emotionallydependent
Adjustchildrentotheirsocialorder
Buildcharacterthroughformalcurriculum
andhiddencurriculum:Informal
teachingthathelpsensurestudents
integrationintosociety
Reinforcegenderroles*

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:
SCHOOLS

Peergroup:Individualsusuallyofsame

agewhoenjoyapproximatelyequalstatus
Inchildhood,formedlargelybyaccident
ofassociation
Laterinlife,tendtochoosepeergroupsbased
oncertaincriteria
Onlyagentofsocializationinchildhood

andyouthnotcontrolledmainlyby
adults*

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:
PEER GROUPS

Allowchildrenandyoungpeople:

Opportunitiestoengageinexperiencesnot
providedinfamily,includingexamining
feelings,beliefsandideasnotacceptableto
family
Opportunitiesforself-directionandselfexpression

Canstronglyshapeindividualsaspirations

andbehavioursthroughstringent
demandsforconformity*

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:
PEER GROUPS

Create,manage,andcontrolimpressionsof

whatisdeemedimportantandreal
Mayinadvertentlyperpetuatestereotypes
Mayteachindividualstobecomeobedient
consumers
Exertpowerfulsocializinginfluencebut
effectsdifficulttomeasure

Mosteffectsimpersonalandtransmittedinone
direction
Researchoneffectsofviolenceinmassmedia
debated*

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION:
THE MASS MEDIA

Religiousinstitutions:Mayhaveeffecton

moraloutlook
Athleticteams:Mayteachyoungpeople
aboutcooperation,competition,following
rules,andestablishingfriendships
Youthgroups:Maybeinstrumentalin
teachingaboutgrouprulesand
expectationsaboutconformityanddeviance
Conflictbothamongandwithinagenciesof
socializationinevitableincomplexsocieties*

OTHER SOCIALIZING AGENTS

Religiousinstitutions:Mayhaveeffectonmoral

outlook
Athleticteams:Mayteachyoungpeopleabout
cooperation,competition,followingrules,and
establishingfriendships
Youthgroups:Maybeinstrumentalinteaching
aboutgrouprulesandexpectationsabout
conformityanddeviance
Conflictbothamongandwithinagenciesof
socializationinevitableincomplexsocieties*

OTHER SOCIALIZING AGENTS

Socialcircumstancesoflifepowerfully

influenceidentity
Todaymoreautonomybutlesssenseof
purposeandfewerenduringsocialties
Difficultyinestablishingstableand
coherentidentity
Voluntaryandsometimesforcibleshifting
inidentity(e.g.cultmember,lifethreateningillness,imprisonment)*

IDENTITY AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Resocialization:Deliberateattemptto

correctorinstillparticularvaluesand
behavioursinindividualorgroup
Occursintotalinstitutions:

Settingsinwhichpeopleareisolatedfromrest
ofsocietyforsetperiod
Whereallaspectsofpersonslifeareregulated
underoneauthority
Examples:Themilitary,convents,prisons,
boardingschools,psychiatrichospitals*

RESOCIALIZATION