Socialization“The process by which people learn, and take into themselves, culture and social structure.”

Two Competing Views of Socialization

•Sigmund Freud (1856-1939): Psychoanalysis ▫Theory of how the self is formed (and

deformed)▫And a method for helping self come to

terms with society•Three Elements of Self

▫Id Instinctual drives; pleasure principle

Two Competing Views of Socialization

▫Superego: culture, internalized▫Ego: "referee" between id and superego

•Developmental Stages▫Oral ▫Anal ▫"Phallic"

•Criticisms▫unrepresentative "sample"

cannot be generalized

▫vastly oversimplifies

Two Competing Views of Socialization

•George Herbert Mead (1863-1931)▫self emerges through a process of

symbolic interaction•“action”:

▫"behavior directed by the meanings people attach to their behavior and to the situation”

•Interaction:▫"behavior among two or more persons guided

by mutual understandings of meaning" ▫understandings occur through symbols

Two Competing Views of Socialization

•Stages of Symbolic Interaction •play

▫Experimentation with a role▫“Taking on the attitude of significant

others”▫ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JmA2ClUvUY

(Babies)

•game▫Purposeful activity among related roles▫“Taking on the attitude of the generalized

other.”