Socialization in Sociology

What is Socialization?

• Socialization refers to the process of learning and internalizing the cultural norms, values, beliefs, and behaviors of a society or social group.
• It is a lifelong process that begins in childhood and continues throughout one’s life.
• Socialization teaches us language, culture, understanding with others, and understanding of ourselves as a social being.

The Emergence of a "Social Self"

• Sociology defines socialization as the process of internalizing the norms and ideologies of society.
• Socialization encompasses both learning and teaching.
• Socialization is strongly connected to developmental psychology.
• Humans need social experiences to learn their culture and survive.
• Socialization represents the whole process of learning throughout the life course and significantly influences the behavior, beliefs, and actions of adults and children.

Socialization Agents

• Socialization occurs through agents of socialization, such as the family, peers, education, media, and religions institutions.
• These agents provide individuals with the necessary skills, knowledge, and social norms to participate in their society and interact with others.

Types of Socialization

• Primary Socialization: This occurs when a child learns the attitudes, values, and actions appropriate to individuals as members of a particular culture. It is mainly influenced by the immediate family and friends.
• Secondary Socialization: This refers to the process of learning what is appropriate behavior as a member of a smaller group within the larger society. It is where children and adults learn how to act in a way that is appropriate for the various situations they are in.
• Developmental Socialization: This is the process of learning and internalizing the norms, values, and beliefs of a society as we develop.
• Anticipatory Socialization: This is the process of learning the norms, values, and beliefs of a group that we anticipate joining in the future, like preparing for a new job or moving to a new city.
• Desocialization: This is the process of unlearning old norms and behaviors in preparation for adopting new ones, like during a transition to a new environment or a new social setting.
• Organizational Socialization: This is the process of learning the norms, values, and beliefs of a specific organization, often during the process of joining and becoming a member.

Freud’s Model of Personality

• Freud believed that biology plays a significant role in human development.
• He theorized that humans have two basic needs at birth: Bonding, known as the “life instinct,” and an aggressive drive called the “death instinct.”
• These opposing forces operate at an unconscious level, generating deep inner tension.

Id, Ego, and Superego

• Id: The id represents basic drives, which are unconscious and demand immediate satisfaction.
• Ego: The ego is a person’s conscious effort to balance innate pleasure-seeking drives with the demands of society. It develops as we become aware of ourselves and realize that we cannot have everything we want.
• Superego: The superego represents the internalized cultural values and norms and operates as our conscience. It tells us why we cannot have everything we want.

Charles H. Cooley: The Looking Glass Self

• Cooley’s looking glass self emphasizes how our sense of self develops from interaction with others, based on how we think others see us.
• The looking glass self has three elements:
  • We imagine how we appear to others.
  • We interpret others’ reactions.
  • We develop a self-concept based on our interpretations of others’ reactions.