Socialization and Resocialization PDF

08/11/2024 Socialization and Resocialization 1 Humans have instincts, yet, many patterns of behaviour are learned through socialization (unlike animals). Ways...

08/11/2024 Socialization and Resocialization 1 Humans have instincts, yet, many patterns of behaviour are learned through socialization (unlike animals). Ways of behaving depend on culture. 2 Johanna Bartolo 1  08/11/2024 Socialization A learning process of cultural norms and values of one’s society making us behave in a way that is acceptable to society. Learning to become social – adequate to live in a society with others. 3 Socialization Is a life-long process that changes and develops as we grow older and encounter new experiences. People need to know what is expected of them in the society they live, and in social situations they encounter. Socialization makes possible some predictability in social life and avoids chaos and confusion in everyday life. 13 Johanna Bartolo 2  08/11/2024 Resocialization Occurs when people are removed from their usual everyday situations and are put (or they encounter) new social environments. It involves learning or relearning appropriate new norms and values to operate in a new environment. 14 Erving Goffman: ‘Asylums’ (total institutions) Asylums are dramatic example of resocialization. In an asylum, rules and regulations exist; individuals lose their personalities; heads shaved; jewellery removed; given a uniform; numbered instead of called by name; no freedom given. Goffman speaks of the mortification of the self - when individuals may find themselves mortified (killed metaphorically) due to the shedding of identity. 15 Johanna Bartolo 3  08/11/2024 Resocialization Stripped off usual roles in society May involve only mild changes (adapting to a new workplace/culture or school) May be quite a drastic change- like being jailed, going to rehab/ the military; monastery; or in a psychiatric hospital. Possibility of stigmatization. 16 Nature versus nurture Nature refers to biology) Nurture refers to socialization – upbringing (learning of cultural norms) Are we born or are we made? Or is it a mix of both? – according to each particular case 17 Johanna Bartolo 4  08/11/2024 What if socialization fails? The case of feral children Feral children are children who have missed the important process of socialization – failed to develop normal human behaviour. Feral children have been isolated from human contact from a very young age, with little or no experience of human care, social behavior, or language. 18 Some factors are hereditary (nature) Others factors are learned during socialization – in a social environment (nurture) 19 Johanna Bartolo 5  08/11/2024 The social construction of self and identity Identity is socially constructed social construction: created in the process of socialization. It is not given by biology or nature. They only exist because people define them as such. Jenkins (2008): identities are formed in the socialization process. 20 During the socialization process, individuals learn to know what they expect from others, and to have a particular view of themselves. They also learn about how others see and define them. These all contribute to the formation of identities. 21 Johanna Bartolo 6  08/11/2024 Primary socialization The socialization during the early years of childhood. Is carried out by the family or close community. 22 Talcott Parsons A Functionalist (Functionalism) Sees primary socialization as crucial (important) in turning newly born children into social beings, adapted to live in the society to which they belong. Learning of norms, values, behaviour. Mentions the importance of punishment. Imitating behaviour – what children see, they do. Importance of sense of belonging. 23 Johanna Bartolo 7  08/11/2024 Secondary socialization Socialization which takes place beyond the family and close community. The continuation of learning of norms and values by means of the agencies of socialization. Children build on their primary identity to form secondary identities. They become influenced by the peer group, schooling, the media and other factors. 24 The agencies/agents of socialization 25 Johanna Bartolo 8  08/11/2024 The educational system: At school children learn a great deal of information Emile Durkheim (Functionalist): describes the school as a ‘society in miniature’ – where children learn about rules and regulations and are punished when their behaviour is inappropriate. Talcott Parsons (Functionalist): the school is a ‘bridge between family and society’. School is important because it teaches universalistic values (unlike particularistic values taught in the family). 26 The educational system: Other sociologist, such as Bourdieu, Bowles and Gintis, and Althusser (all Marxists) – see school as a tool for the powerful to justify their power of position of authority. They say that the school reproduces and legitimizes social class inequalities. 27 Johanna Bartolo 9  08/11/2024 The peer group: The desire for acceptance by peers (having friends) Very influential – offers a form of identity. The fear of rejection may exert an enormous influence on the individual’s self identity and behaviour. 28 The workplace: Importance of work – belonging to a group of workmates. Learning many things like conforming. 29 Johanna Bartolo 10  08/11/2024 The media: Major sources of information in this day and age Mass media, social media; Functionalists suggest that the media provide a beneficial socializing function in society, by building value consensus and social stability. Marxists regard the media as a form of repression – lulling the masses into a passive, unquestioning mindless spectators. 30 Religious Institutions: Beliefs which influence people’s ideas about right and wrong; important values and norms – morality. It therefore may affect behaviour. Identities are affected too. Functionalists: see religion as providing the collective identity and maintaining cultural traditions. Religion establishes rules for social life. 31 Johanna Bartolo 11  08/11/2024 Durkheim: through religion the collective conscience is achieve. When people worship their gods together, the form an awareness of the group (importance of unity). Social solidarity (vs. anomie suicide). 32 Marx sees religion as the opium of the people – religion is a tool for the dominants to maintain their power of authority. Authority and power are justified. Religion reinforces inequalities and exploitation and oppression – it is the blindfold preventing class consciousness. 33 Johanna Bartolo 12  08/11/2024 Althusser saw religion as an ideological state apparatus – like many other social institutions, religion justifies power and social class differences, thus prevents change. Gramsci: hegemony: consent and acceptance by people that their position is unchangeable and inevitable (justification). 34 35 Johanna Bartolo 13