SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THE SELF

Socialization is a process of which individuals internalize many of the socially approved values, attitudes, beliefs
and behavior patterns of their culture.
- It is a life long process of becoming a social being who can adapt to new situations at different stages
of the life course.

Importance of socialization
- Socialization is important because it is the process by which human culture is transmitted from one
generation to the next.
- Through socialization the person acquire a social self and personality
- Socialization is means of social control by which members are encouraged to conform to the ways of
the group by internalizing the group’s norms and values.

Examples on how important socialization are to a person

The case of Anna

The girl who live in Pennsylvania farmhouse attic until 6 years old, she was an illegitimate child thus she
was hidden in the attic and her growth was retardate.

The case of Isabel

The six years old Ohio girl who lived with her deaf and mute grandmother. Although she was not deaf
and mute she grew up not knowing how to speak.

The case of Tarzan

He grew up in the jungle and learns the ways of the jungle. Thus he acts more like an animal than a man.

Process of socialization resulted to:

1. Transmission of culture through socialization culture is carried from one generation to another and thus
the society can endure.
2. Creation of the self – socialization is also a process of developing one’s self. A person growing – up in an
society gradually acquire a sense of:

a. Identity
b. A variety of distinct personal qualities and
c. Feelings about the self.

Social self – an awareness of personal or social identity

Personality is an organization of attitudes, beliefs and behavior
Through socialization individuals’ personality is created and modified from birth to death.

3. Learning social roles.

As individuals acquire culture they also learn about their roles. These roles may be acquired
directly or indirectly. Through teaching we acquire our roles directly and through gestures and expression
we indirectly learn our roles.

One of the things we learn indirectly is our gender concept.

 At birth we are socialized as boy or girl. Baby boys are given toys like guns ball and are expected to be
brave; resourceful and independent while girls are given dolls and kitchenware’s and are expected to act timid
and dependent. Thus the development of girls is slowed and those boys who could not cope with societies
expectation grow up with so much insecurity in life.

Theories of socialization

CHARLES HORTON COOLEY

- Founder of symbolic interactionism school of sociology. Believes that individuals and their
personalities are product of social interaction and social forces.
- He developed the Looking glass self theory
Looking glass self-theory is the ability of children to visualize themselves through the eyes of others, to imagine
how they appear to others.

Three major elements of looking glass self theory

1. Our image of how others see us.
2. Our image of how others judge our appearance
3. The feeling of self that resulted from our imagination of the thoughts others have for us.

How we see ourselves in influenced by how we thinks others perceive on us

GEORGE HERBERT MEAD

For Mead self is a social product that develops through social experience and interaction with others. The
self is divided into two the “I” and the “ME”.

I – is the unorganized and undirected tendency of the self.

Me – is the socialized or conventional self.

As children acquire language, they acquire mind, or the ability to symbolize and to relate symbols to one
another. A child thus becomes self-conscious by reflecting about themselves, their behavior and the behavior of
others.

Agents of socialization
1. Family – the most important unit of socialization.
- First group to provide meaning and support to the individual
- Serves as the Childs reference group
- Its attitude, norms, values and practices are the source of the child’s first interpretation of the world.
- It is where the child learns to speak, “proper” attitudes and other basic skills.
- We also learn violence in the family
- Our parents are our role models.
2. Peer group
- Consist of the many groups in which the child/person participate.
3. School
School weakens dependence on family and through school values and norms of the community considers
important are thought to the children so that they may fit into the roles of the community.
4. Mass Media
News papers, radio, movies, television, books are important in communicating to individuals the societies’
beliefs, values, mores and traditions.
 EXPERIENTIAL TASK FOR UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

1. Research on the biography and works of the following sociologist/social

psychologist:
a. GEORGE HERBERT MEAD
b. CHARLES HORTON COOLEY
c. LEV VYGOTSKY
Specifically look for the above authors concept of self and how self is
developed. NO NEED TO WRITE/SUBMIT BUT BE PREAPRED FOR A LONG QUIZ
AND GRADED RECITATION ON MONDAY February 18, 2019 for MW classes and
TUESDAY February 19, 2019 for TTH classes.

2. Start writing your daily journal on UNDERSTANDING THE SELF.

a. Get 20-50 page notebook.
b. On the first page draw an object that will best present/describe you.
c. Write some information about you such as your Full name, address and
course.
d. On the second page write about who you are and how you grew up.
e. Due date of submission: February 22, 2019, 12 NN.