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Amber Dominguez
SOC204/Cascade
Chapter Review
February 7, 2016

Importance of Socialization
1. Describe why socialization is important for being fully human.
Socialization is important for being fully human because its the process by which
people learn their culture. A persons social environment forms their thoughts, actions and
their life chances. For example, the children described (Anna & Isabelle) in the chapter
both had something in common (feral children). They both lived in harsh living
conditions; they were kept inside all the time, and isolated from the real world all their
lives. When they were finally found, neither of them resembled their actual age, and they
also demonstrated very odd behavior. It was clear that the cases of Anna and Isabelle
were unfortunate examples of extreme lack of socialization. These examples show the
importance of socialization for childrens cognitive and social development (Barkan,
2011, 100).
Theories
2. Describe the theories of Cooley, Mead, Freud, Piaget, Kohlberg, Gilligan, and
Erikson.
A few sociological explanations discussed in the chapter view how the self, ones
identity, self-concept, and self image evolve. This has to do with how we learn to interact,
by first interacting with others, and by using our interaction to achieve an idea of who we
are, and what society expects of us (Barkan, 2011, 103). A long with this in the chapter
comes a few major theories looked at from different views (infancy, childhood,
adolescence) and by different scholars because socialization is very important to them.
For example, Charles Cooley (1864-1929) believed that children obtained an impression
of how others viewed them as other children interacted with them. The resulted in
children seeing themselves while interacting while interacting with other children, as if
they were looking in a mirror (looking-glass self). People may use the views that other
people have on them to form feelings about themselves. Another major theory
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(development of self) was made by George H. Mead (1863-1931). His main focus was on
children playing, which he believed was their main perception of how individuals should
interact. Mead said when children play they pretend to be other people while playing,
because they think this is what is expected of them. They even treat their dolls the way
they think their parents will treat them (taking the role of the other).
A few other explanations discussed in the chapter are psychological and centered
on the development of personality, cognitive ability, and morality. Sigmund Freud (1856-
1939) believed that ones personality was made up of 3 parts such as id, ego, and
superego. To Freud, children grow up and absorb societys values and norms, and then
form their superego. If they do not grow up normal and their superego isnt strong
enough, they will most likely develop anti-social behavior. Another major theory
mentioned in the chapter focuses on cognitive development. Jean Piaget (1896-1980)
believed children gained a self and personality and could also learn how to think and
reason (Barkan, 2011, 106). To Piaget, cognitive development takes place through 4
stages of social interaction, and by the final stage (age 12) children start to use common
principals to solve many problems.
Agents
3. Identify five agents of socialization.
There are many groups and other individuals that exist, and are also known as
agents of socialization. The most vital agents of socialization and with the most
powerful impact are family, school, peer groups, mass media, and religion.
4. Describe good and bad aspects of the socialization these agents produce.
It is difficult to describe every single good and bad aspect produced from family
when not all families are the same. Parents interact with their children depending on
many things, and the 2 most important things are their parents social and biological sex.
For example, working-class and middle-class parent frequently interact with their
children very differently. Working-class parents who usually work in factories have little
rights, and are usually told what to do. These parents usually value obedience, and focus
on obedience and respect while raising their children. They also approve of spanking as
their main way of disciplining their children when they disobey. Whereas middle-class
parents regularly hold white-collar jobs, and having rights and independent judgment is
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very important to them. These parents focus on independence when raising their children,
and are not known to spank their children when they disobey.
Another agent of socialization is school which socializes children through
reading, writing, and arithmetic (formal curriculum). Schools also socialize students to
learn and obey their teachers and principals, love their country and respect their authority
(hidden curriculum). There is necessarily a bad or good aspect of school, but it is one of
the most profound agents of socialization.
The next agent of socialization is peer groups. These groups are great when they
are needed for fun, emotional comfort and support, and of course companionship. The
bad aspect of peer groups is peer pressure which may affect how some adolescence make
important decisions about almost everything. Peer pressure especially influence underage
drinking, drug use, or delinquency.
Mass media is another profound agent of socialization that influences views by
society in almost any area. Mass media influences our political views; our taste in
popular culture, our views of women, people of color, gays, and many other beliefs and
practices (Barkan, 2011, 118) Mass media is usually responsible for violence or many
other issues in society.
The final agent of socialization which is religion, was not as important in society
as it was a few generations back, it still has a significant amount of influence our beliefs,
values, and behaviors. Similar to families, religions are not all the same, so in order to pin
point good and bad aspects of this specific agent of socialization would be difficult.
According to the chapter, both good and bad aspects of religion can affect your values
and beliefs on religious and nonreligious issues alike, but their particular effects vary
from issue to issue (Barkan, 2011, 119).
Resocialization & Institutions
5. Discuss what is meant by resocialization.
Resocialization means when one lives in a setting so controlled that their values
and beliefs change drastically. Most resocialization takes place in institutions where there
is complete control over the lives of people who live with them (Barkan, 2011, 123).
6. List any two characteristics of a total institution.
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Total institutions all have certain methods and systems that make them total
institutions. One of their key characteristics is having complete control over the lives of
their inmates and patients (jail, mental asylums). Another kind of total institution removes
the identity of its residents in attempt to emasculate their self-identity. In this type of
institution, the residents usually have their heads shaved (boot camp) and wear uniforms.
These kinds of methods make everyone look alike, which helps in the process of
diminishing the residents self-identity.