Agents of Socialization:

FAMILY
THINGS TO CONSIDER:
Guiding Thought Learning Objectives:
Students will be able to explain
Question: the importance of the family in
How do you think your the socialization process.
Students will take notes on the
relationship with your
sociological perspective of
family will change as families and then answer
you get older? situational thought questions
relating to the role of families.
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FAMILY
A SOCIAL UNIT OF PEOPLE.
A cooperative economic unit
that cares for any young who
consider their identity to be
attached to the group; and are
committed to maintaining the
group.

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 1.
Perspectives on Family
THEORIES
STRUCTURAL CONFLICT FEMINIST SYMBOLIC
FUNCTIONALIST THEORY Family reflects INTERACTIONIST
Families meet the Family reinforce gender Families emerge
needs to socialize and support hierarchies in so people can
children and power relations in society. meet basic needs
reproduce new society. and develop
members. relationships.

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1960: ages 35-44
Drop in rate of marriage

Cohabitation
Especially in Europe - living as a “family” without
formal processes of marriage to indicate commitment

Increased divorce rate

From 1960-current day steady increase in divorce
rates.
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Impact on Family Structure in Society
● Divorce leads to negative views of marriage
○ = less people getting married
● Increase in disengagement from religious
influence
● Higher involvement of extended family
● The new family “norm” has changed.

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Family
situations
Directions: For each statement, write a 2-4 sentence
explanation of how you would handle each situation and
why you would take those actions.
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Situation 1: Your mother is old and sick and can no longer live on her own.
What do you do?

Situation 2: Your sister calls asking for money again, you know she is not
very good with money and will probably call again later. What do you do?

Situation 3: Your brother-in-law calls asking you to help him get a job at the
company you work for. You know he is not qualified for the job. What do
you do?

Situation 4: Your parents want you to spend New Year’s with them but you
would rather hang out with your friends. What do you do?
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Situation 5: Your parents do not approve of your boyfriend/girlfriend. What
do you do?

Situation 6: You want to be a chef but your parents are trying to force you
to be a doctor. What do you do?

Situation 7: You take $20 from your mom’s wallet and she asks you about
it later. What do you do?

Situation 8: You’re getting married, what role do your parents and siblings
have in the planning and the ceremony itself?
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REFLECT:
1. Would it be more difficult to talk
to your friends or family about
the situations described above?
Explain.
2. Why is it difficult to confront
members of your family?
3. What function does your own
family have in your socialization?

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Conclusion
Depending on one’s relationship with their family,
the impact they have on your life (ex. Decisions
you make, behaviours, etc.) shows how you have
been socialized by them.

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 Abnormal socialization within the family
Case Study: Isolated Children
Isolated children
In some situations, children do
not undergo appropriate
socialization within the family.
Examples include: various forms
of abuse such as the case of
isolation whereby children are
living within the family but are
essentially “abandoned”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIgOCSKfaks
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 Abnormal socialization within the family
Case Study: Isolated Children
Isolated children
The case of “isolated children”
drives the nature/nurture debate in
so much that it begs the question
whether or not individuals develop
from being cared for OR as a result
of biology/genes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIgOCSKfaks
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 Abnormal socialization within the family
Case Study: Isolated Children
Page: 117-118 - Isolated children

1. Identify 3 components necessary for

“normal development”.
2. What evidence is there that human
contact and socialization are essential for
normal development?
3. How does the study of isolated children
contribute to our understanding of the
nature-nurture debate?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIgOCSKfaks
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 Nature vs. Nurture debate: Twin study

Nature Nurture
Socialization and
Heredity
environment

EXAMPLE: Twin Study - Twins raised apart;

QUESTION:
If nurture is more important, then twins should be significantly
different in personal traits and behaviours.
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 Case Study: Twins
Page: 116 - Reunited Twins
1. What evidence is there that identical twins share certain inherited
personality traits?
2. What evidence is there that identical twins do not share certain
inherited traits?
3. How was the evidence collected?
4. What further evidence would be important to consider, which the
study did not provide?
5. How does the study of identical twins contribute to our
understanding of the nature-nurture debate?
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TEXT REVIEW
PG. 154 - What are the 3 main types of Family Roles?
PG.156 - Why has single parenthood increased in recent years? What
is the greatest problem faced by single parents?
PG 158 - What is spousal abuse? What can it lead to? How can one
deal with spousal abuse?
PG 160 - What did the Divorce Act allow for? What is often the
impact(s) of divorce?