Enculturation and Socialization Quiz

Enculturation and Socialization

• Enculturation is the process of learning and adopting the norms, values, behaviors, and beliefs of a culture.
• Socialization is the process of learning societal norms, expectations, and values as a member of society.
• The Looking Glass Self Theory, proposed by Charles Horton Cooley, describes how individuals base their sense of self on how they believe others perceive them.
• The Role-taking Theory, proposed by George Herbert Mead, suggests that social awareness develops through early social interactions.

Looking Glass Self Theory

• Positive feedback from others reinforces an individual's belief in their own abilities and worth.
• Negative feedback can lead to self-doubt.

Examples of Looking Glass Self Theory

• A new employee seeking validation from colleagues based on their reactions.
• A student receiving positive feedback in class, reinforcing their sense of intelligence.
• Social media users seeking validation through likes and comments.

Role-Taking Theory

• Individuals learn to understand the perspectives of others through interactions.
• Children learn to engage in role playing, taking on different social roles.

Enculturation & Socialization

• Society and culture are distinct.
• Socialization is the learning process of societal norms, values, and expectations for members of society.
• Enculturation is the process where individuals adopt cultural patterns of their immersion.

Enculturation

• It's the process of acquiring personal identity and cultural knowledge beginning in infancy.
• It involves learning norms, values, behavior, habits, beliefs, social skills, and accumulated knowledge.
• This process prepares individuals for adult roles within their society.
• It's a lifelong process that starts at birth and continues until death.

Role-Taking Theory

• Developed by George Herbert Mead.
• Suggests that the concept of self emerges from social interaction.
• The "Me" represents the social self, influenced by how we believe others perceive us.

Agents of Socialization

• Family: Shapes our self-image, motivations, values, and beliefs.
• School: Introduces individuals to peers outside their families, broadening their perspectives.
• Peers: Offer young people a sense of independence from their families and support them in transitioning to adulthood.
• Mass Media: Shapes individuals' understanding of the world through various role models and occupations.
• Workplace: Provides individuals with knowledge of proper behavior in the workforce and signals that one has reached adulthood.

Conformity & Deviance

• Conformity: The act of aligning with the behavior of most people in a society or group.
• Deviance: The violation of cultural norms, potentially breaking formal laws (e.g., crime) or social rules (e.g., substance abuse).
• Positive Deviance: Deviance that challenges unjust norms and leads to positive social change (e.g., civil rights protests).

Strain Theory

• Developed by Robert K. Merton.
• Suggests that inability to achieve culturally valued goals can lead to frustration and deviant behavior.

Forms of Deviance

• Innovation: Rejecting socially accepted means to achieve success.
• Ritualism: Rejecting the importance of success goals while adhering to societal norms.
• Retreatism: Rejecting both cultural goals and means.
• Rebellion: Attempting to change societal goals and means.

Human Dignity

• Inherent and inviolable.
• Represents the basis of fundamental human rights.
• Foundation of freedom, justice, and peace in the world.

Human Rights

• They are universal, inherent to all human beings regardless of background.
• They are interconnected, interdependent, and indivisible.
• They are not privileges that can be taken away.
• They are meant to protect individuals against harm and promote peaceful coexistence.

The Common Good

• Often used to justify social systems and tyrannies throughout history.
• Difficult to define precisely.
• Its true meaning is the sum of the good of all individuals in a society.