Chapter 2

Ecology of Socialization

The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day.

John Milton

Aims of Socialization

Terms

• Self-Concept– An individual’s perception of his or her

identity as distinct from that of others

• Self-Esteem– The value one places on his/her identity

Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development

Name Developmental Stage Task

Trust vs. Mistrust Infancy Develop a basic sense of trust

Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt

Early Childhood Develop autonomy

Initiative vs. Guilt Play Age Develop initiative

Industry vs. Inferiority School Age Develop feelings of competence

Identity vs. Identity Diffusion

Adolescence Integrate early self with changing self

Intimacy vs. Isolation Young Adulthood Establish intimacy

Generativity vs. Self-Absorption

Adulthood Establish and guide the next generation

Integrity vs. Despair Senescence Reach end of life with positive self-esteem

Aims of Socialization

• Develop self-concept• Enable self-regulation• Empower achievement• Teach appropriate social goals• Implement developmental skills social, emotional, cognitive skills

Self-Regulation

• The ability to control one’s impulses, behavior, and/or emotions. . . until an appropriate time, place, or object is available for expression

• Teens-prefrontal cortex just behind the forehead

Developmental Task

• A task that lies between an individual need and a societal demand

Agents of Socialization

Agents of Socialization

• Family• School and Child Care• Peers• Mass Media• The Community

Agents of Socialization

JEFF GREENBERG / PHOTOEDIT, INC.

Egocentrism

• The cognitive inability to look at the world from any point of view other than one’s own

Cultural DifferencesOrientation Collectivist /

Individualistic

Coping Style Active/Passive

Attitude Toward Authority

Submissive/Egalitarian

Communication Style

Open-Expressive/ Restrained-Private

Methods of Socialization

Affective Methods

• Include – responses to others– feelings about self– feelings about others– expression of emotion

Attachment

• An affectional tie that one person forms to another person, binding them together in space and enduring over time

Methods

• Affective• Operant• Observational• Cognitive• Sociocultural• Apprenticeship see text

Operant Methods

• Operant: Producing an effect• Reinforcement

– An object or event presented following a behavior that serves to increase the likelihood that the behavior will occur

• Extinction– The gradual disappearance of a learned

behavior following the removal of the reinforcement

Operant Methods

• Punishment– Physical or psychologically painful stimuli or

the temporary withdrawal of pleasant stimuli when undesirable behavior occurs

• Feedback– Evaluative information, both positive and

negative, about one’s behavior

Observational Methods

• Modeling– A form of imitative learning that occurs by

observing another person (the model) perform a behavior and experience its consequence

Cognitive Methods

• Instruction• Setting Standards

• Reasoning– Giving explanations or causes for an actSee text

Parenting Styles

• Authoritarian • Parent-centered; Characterized by

unquestioning obedience to authority

• Permissive• Child-centered; Characterized by lack of

directives or authority

• Authoritative• Democratic; Authority is based on

competence or expertise

Sociocultural Methods

Apprenticeship

• A process in which a novice is guided by an expert to participate in and master tasks

• Structuring• Collaborating• Transferring

Outcomes of Socialization

Outcomes

• Values• Attitudes• Motives and attributions• Self-esteem• Self-regulation/behavior• Morals• Gender roles