PraPISMP TESL

June 2014 Intake

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

 Socialization:Activeprocesswherebyhuman
beings
Learnhowtobecomemembersofsociety
Developaselforsenseofindividualidentity,
and
Learntoparticipateinsocialrelationshipswith
others*

SOCIALIZATION

1. Primarysocialization:
Occursinchildhood
Laysfoundationthatinfluencesself-concept
andinvolvementinsociallife
2. Secondarysocialization:
Learningthatoccursafterpeoplehave
undergoneprimarysocialization
Continuesthroughoutlife*

SOCIALIZATION:TWOTYPES

 Longstandingdebateoverwhetherhuman
behaviourisoutcomeofbiological
inheritance(nature/instincts)orthesocial
environment(nurture)
Sociologyemphasizesimportanceof
societyandsocialization(nurture)in
humanbehaviour*
NATUREVERSUSNURTUREDEBATE

 Studiesofchildrenraisedinisolation:Demonstrate
importanceofsocialinteractioninsocializationprocess
Studyoninfantsinorphanageandinfantsinprison
nursery:Demonstratesimportanceofsocialcontactin
developmentofhumaninfants
Socializationessentialtophysicalwellbeing,social
competenceofinfants,anddevelopmentofself*

EVIDENCEFORNURTURE

 Childrenneedhumancontact,affection,
andinteractioninordertofullydevelop
E.g.,Anna,Isabelle,neglectedorphan
children,thelatterwithdeaf-mutemother
Becausethesechildrenwerenotsocializedat
thepropertime,theirdevelopmentaldisorders
persistedafterattemptstointegratetheminto
society,AnnamuchworsethanIsabelle

Theimportanceofsocialization

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

Organizationsandinstitutionsaredependent
uponsocializedpeopletohelpthempersist:
school,bootcamp,internship,churchschool,etc.

Socializationandthesocialworld

 The Structural-functionalist perspective -different

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

Socializationandthesocialworld
(contd.)

 Socializationinvolvesnotonlylearningabout
othersbutdevelopingsenseofself
Theself:
Isoursenseofindividualidentity
Allowsustounderstandourselves
Allowsustodifferentiateourselvesfromothers

Newbornunabletodifferentiateitselffrom
mother
Differentiationoccursgraduallythroughinteraction*

THESELFANDSOCIALIZATION

 Gesturesandreactionsofothersareamirroror
lookingglassinwhichweseeourselves:

Attentionispaidtoothersgesturesandreactionsto
us
Weimaginehowourappearance,manners,and
presentationofselfareregardedbyothers
Ourevaluationofhowwebelieveourselvesjudged
byothersinfluenceshowweviewourself(e.g.,with
pride,embarrassment,etc.)

Ourfirstimagesofselfcomefromsignificant
others(e.g.,parents)andtheprimarygroup
(e.g.,thefamily)*

GENDERSOCIALIZATION

 AdolescentsocializationAdolescence:Modernstage
oflifebetweenchildhoodandadulthood
Productofindustrializationandmasseducation

Requiresbalancebefoundbetweenautonomyand
conformity,andfreedomandconstraint
Needformanagingtensionbetweenparentsexpectationsof
maturitywhilesimultaneouslybeingtreatedasachild

Alsoinvolvesanticipatorysocialization:Aspirantsto
particularsocialrolesimaginewhatitwouldbeliketo
enactthoseroles*

SOCIALIZATIONTHROUGHTHE
LIFECOURSE

 Adultsocialization:Processbywhichadults
takeonnewstatusesandacquirenewand
differentsocialidentities
Canoccurinnewsituationsatwork(e.g.,new
job)orinprivatelife(e.g.,newmarried/divorced
status)
Involvesmorefreedomofchoicethan
adolescentsocialization(e.g.,whethertomarry,
havechildren;whichcareertopursue,etc.)*

ADULTSOCIALIZATION

 Challengesoflateryearsoflife:
Decreasedphysicalabilityandprospectofdeathin
midstofWesternsocietysdenialofdeath
Negativemediastereotypesofagingandseniors
Loweredprestigethroughlossofusefulrolesand
valuedstatuses(e.g.,workerandspouse)

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

SOCIALIZATIONAMONG
SENIORS

 Agentsofsocialization:Individuals,groups,
andinstitutionsthatimpartrangeof
informationneededforindividualstointeract
effectivelyandparticipateinsociety
Includefamilies,schools,peergroups,mass
media,religiousinstitutions,etc.
Providebothformalandinformaltraining*

AGENTSOFSOCIALIZATION

 Throughcloseinteractionwithparents
andsmallnumberofothers,child:
Learnstothinkandspeak
Internalizesnorms,beliefs,andvalues
Learnsgenderroles
Developscapacityforintimateandpersonal
relationships
Beginstodevelopaselfimage*

AGENTSOFSOCIALIZATION:
FAMILIES

TOPTWELVECONCERNSOF
CANADIANS

 Teachchildrenindirectlytobeless
emotionallydependent
Adjustchildrentotheirsocialorder
Buildcharacterthroughformalcurriculum
andhiddencurriculum:Informalteaching
thathelpsensurestudentsintegrationinto
society
Reinforcegenderroles*

AGENTSOFSOCIALIZATION:
SCHOOLS

 Peergroup:Individualsusuallyofsame
agewhoenjoyapproximatelyequalstatus
Inchildhood,formedlargelybyaccidentof
association
Laterinlife,tendtochoosepeergroupsbased
oncertaincriteria

Onlyagentofsocializationinchildhoodand
youthnotcontrolledmainlybyadults*

AGENTSOFSOCIALIZATION:
PEERGROUPS

 Allowchildrenandyoungpeople:
Opportunitiestoengageinexperiencesnot
providedinfamily,includingexamining
feelings,beliefsandideasnotacceptableto
family
Opportunitiesforself-directionandselfexpression

Canstronglyshapeindividuals
aspirationsandbehavioursthrough
stringentdemandsforconformity*

AGENTSOFSOCIALIZATION:
PEERGROUPS

 Create,manage,andcontrolimpressionsof
whatisdeemedimportantandreal
Mayinadvertentlyperpetuatestereotypes
Mayteachindividualstobecomeobedient
consumers
Exertpowerfulsocializinginfluencebuteffects
difficulttomeasure
Mosteffectsimpersonalandtransmittedinone
direction
Researchoneffectsofviolenceinmassmedia
debated*

AGENTSOFSOCIALIZATION:
THEMASSMEDIA

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

OTHERSOCIALIZING
AGENTS

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

OTHERSOCIALIZING
AGENTS

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

IDENTITYANDSOCIALCHANGE

 Resocialization:Deliberateattemptto
correctorinstillparticularvaluesand
behavioursinindividualorgroup
Occursintotalinstitutions:
Settingsinwhichpeopleareisolatedfrom
restofsocietyforsetperiod
Whereallaspectsofpersonslifeare
regulatedunderoneauthority
Examples:Themilitary,convents,prisons,
boardingschools,psychiatrichospitals*

RESOCIALIZATION