Socialization: Crash Course Sociology #14

CrashCourse
20 Jun 201709:36
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis script explores the concept of socialization, detailing how individuals are influenced by various agents such as family, peers, media, and institutions like schools and the military. It delves into primary socialization in the home, the impact of gender, race, and class, the role of schools and peer groups, and the transformative power of media and total institutions. The episode encourages viewers to reflect on their own socialization and the influence they exert on others.

Takeaways
  • 📚 Socialization is the process through which individuals develop their personalities, human potential, and learn about their society and culture by interacting with others.
  • 👶 Primary socialization occurs within the family and is the first exposure to language, values, beliefs, behaviors, and societal norms.
  • 📚 Cultural capital, as described by Pierre Bourdieu, refers to non-financial assets like education and cultural exposure that contribute to success in society.
  • 👶🏻 Even seemingly innocuous activities like reading 'Goodnight Moon' to a toddler contribute to the development of reading values and early language recognition skills.
  • 👦👧 Gender socialization begins early in life, influencing the psychological and social traits associated with a person's sex, starting from the choice of a gendered name.
  • 🏠 Race and class socialization are part of initial socialization, teaching children behaviors, values, and attitudes associated with racial groups and social classes.
  • 🎓 Schools introduce children to bureaucracies and systems of rules, contributing to secondary socialization and exposing them to a 'hidden curriculum' of norms, values, and beliefs.
  • 🏫 Peer groups significantly impact socialization, influencing behaviors and attitudes, as shown by James Coleman's study of teenage social categories and their effects on academic performance.
  • 📺 Media consumption, including TV and the internet, is a form of socialization that can influence attitudes and behaviors, with different impacts based on factors like class, race, and age.
  • 🎥 The content of media, such as educational programs like Sesame Street, can have positive effects on children's attitudes towards diversity and inclusivity.
  • 🏢 Total institutions, like the military or prisons, are places where individuals undergo resocialization, a process of identity breakdown and rebuilding with new norms and values.
Q & A

  • What is socialization according to the script?

    -Socialization is the social process through which individuals develop their personalities and human potential, and learn about their society and culture.

  • What is primary socialization and why is it significant?

    -Primary socialization refers to the first experiences with language, values, beliefs, behaviors, and norms of society, typically acquired from family members. It is significant because it lays the foundation for an individual's understanding of their social world.

  • What does Pierre Bourdieu mean by 'cultural capital'?

    -Cultural capital, as defined by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, refers to the non-financial assets such as knowledge, skills, and cultural interests that help individuals succeed in the world.

  • How does the presence of books in the home impact children's education?

    -The presence of books in the home is associated with children performing better in school, as it teaches the value of reading and helps children begin to recognize written language.

  • What is gender socialization and how does it begin?

    -Gender socialization is the process of learning the psychological and social traits associated with a person's sex. It begins from the moment parents decide on a gendered name and when nurses assign pink or blue hats to newborns.

  • What is anticipatory socialization and how does it relate to children's development?

    -Anticipatory socialization is the social process where people learn to take on the values and standards of groups they plan to join. It is relevant to children's development as they learn to play the part of adults by observing and mimicking their parents.

  • What is the 'hidden curriculum' in schools and how does it influence students?

    -The 'hidden curriculum' in schools refers to the education in norms, values, and beliefs that are passed along through schooling, in addition to academic subjects. It influences students by teaching them societal expectations and behaviors.

  • How does James Coleman's study of teenage social groups illustrate the impact of peer groups on education?

    -James Coleman's study showed that the social groups teenagers identified with and the behaviors expected of those groups influenced their academic performance. In schools where good grades were valued by the popular group, students with high IQs performed better.

  • What role do media, such as TV and the internet, play in an individual's socialization?

    -Media consumption is a part of socialization as it influences attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. It can impact cognitive development, language skills, and social-emotional growth, especially in children.

  • What are 'total institutions' and how do they contribute to resocialization?

    -Total institutions are places like the military, prisons, boarding schools, or psychiatric institutions that control all aspects of residents' lives. They contribute to resocialization by breaking down existing identities and building new ones through strict rules, rewards, and punishments.

  • How does the script suggest that socialization is a lifelong process?

    -The script suggests that socialization is a lifelong process by discussing various stages and agents of socialization, from family and school to peer groups and media, and even including total institutions that can induce resocialization.

Outlines
00:00
📚 The Foundations of Socialization

This paragraph introduces the concept of socialization as the process through which individuals develop their personalities, values, and behaviors within a society. It emphasizes the role of family in primary socialization, teaching children the basics of language, values, and societal norms. The importance of cultural capital, as described by Pierre Bourdieu, is highlighted, showing how early experiences, such as reading 'Goodnight Moon,' can significantly impact a child's educational success. Additionally, the paragraph delves into gender, race, and class socialization, explaining how these aspects shape a person's identity and expectations within society.

05:05
👥 The Influence of Peer Groups and Media

This paragraph explores the impact of peer groups and media on socialization. It discusses how peer groups can shape an individual's traits and behaviors, as illustrated by James Coleman's study on teenage social categories and their associated expectations. The paragraph also examines the role of media in socialization, noting its influence on cognitive development and attitudes, particularly in children. Examples such as the effects of 'Sesame Street' on racial attitudes and '16 and Pregnant' on teen pregnancy rates are provided. Furthermore, the concept of total institutions, such as the military or prisons, is introduced, explaining how these environments facilitate resocialization through strict control and behavioral modification.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Socialization
Socialization is the process through which individuals learn the norms, values, and behaviors of their society and culture. It is central to the video's theme, as it discusses how different agents of socialization, such as family, school, and peers, shape an individual's personality and worldview. The script uses the concept to explore how people develop their identities and interact within society, with examples including how toddlers learn through bedtime stories and soldiers are resocialized in boot camp.
💡Primary Socialization
Primary socialization refers to the initial and most fundamental learning experiences that occur within the family, where children first encounter language, values, beliefs, and societal norms. The video emphasizes its importance by explaining that family members serve as the first teachers, imparting cultural capital that aids in a child's development. An example from the script is the bedtime story 'Goodnight Moon,' which not only teaches the value of reading but also helps children recognize written language.
💡Cultural Capital
Cultural capital is a concept introduced by French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu, referring to the non-financial assets, such as education and cultural knowledge, that individuals inherit and which can provide social advantages. In the context of the video, cultural capital is exemplified by the games, books, and toys that parents provide for their children, which contribute to their future success in society.
💡Gender Socialization
Gender socialization is the process by which individuals learn the behaviors, roles, and expectations associated with their gender. The video explains that this begins from birth, with parents choosing gendered names and nurses assigning gender-specific colors. The script illustrates this with the example of how a pink or blue hat placed on a newborn can be the start of gender-specific expectations and behaviors.
💡Anticipatory Socialization
Anticipatory socialization is the process where individuals learn the values and standards of groups they plan to join in the future. The video describes how children anticipate becoming adults and learn to play the part by observing their parents. This concept is used to explain how children are prepared for future roles in society, such as 'being a man' or 'being a woman,' through the teachings and expectations placed upon them.
💡Secondary Socialization
Secondary socialization occurs when children are socialized outside the home, within the broader society. The video uses the example of schools as a primary setting for secondary socialization, where children encounter bureaucracies, rules, and a variety of social norms different from what they might have learned at home. This process helps children adapt to societal expectations beyond the family unit.
💡Hidden Curriculum
The hidden curriculum refers to the informal and unstated educational content that is learned alongside the formal curriculum in schools. The video explains that while schools teach reading, writing, and arithmetic, they also impart norms, values, and beliefs. An example from the script is a spelling bee, which not only teaches literacy but also reinforces the idea of competition and the concept of winners and losers.
💡Peer Groups
Peer groups are social groups composed of individuals who share common interests, social positions, and often age. The video discusses the significant impact of peer groups on the socialization process, particularly during school age. It cites James Coleman's study, which found that the social groups teenagers identified with influenced their educational outcomes and behaviors, such as the value placed on academic achievement among the 'popular kids'.
💡Media Socialization
Media socialization refers to the influence of media consumption on an individual's socialization process. The video explains that the media, including TV and the internet, are integral parts of people's lives and can shape attitudes and behaviors. It provides examples such as the potential negative effects of excessive TV viewing on early childhood development and the positive influence of 'Sesame Street' on attitudes towards racial diversity.
💡Total Institutions
Total institutions are environments where individuals are isolated from society and subjected to strict rules governing their behavior. The term, coined by Erving Goffman, includes settings like the military, prisons, and boarding schools. The video discusses how these institutions can lead to resocialization, where individuals are reformed to adopt new norms and values, often through intense experiences that break down their existing identity and rebuild it according to the institution's standards.
💡Resocialization
Resocialization is the process of retraining individuals to adopt a new set of behaviors, norms, and values, often in the context of total institutions. The video uses the example of military boot camp, where soldiers undergo a transformation that emphasizes group identity and self-sacrifice. This process involves breaking down the individual's existing identity and rebuilding it with new values that align with the institution's goals.
Highlights

Socialization is the process through which we develop our personalities and learn about our society and culture.

Socialization occurs through interaction with others and is a life-long process.

Primary socialization begins in the family and is the source of our first experiences with language, values, and societal norms.

Cultural capital, as described by Pierre Bourdieu, includes non-financial assets like language and education that help individuals succeed.

Gender socialization starts early, influencing psychological and social traits associated with a person's sex.

Race socialization teaches children behaviors and attitudes associated with racial groups, affecting racial discrimination.

Class socialization shapes norms and values based on one's social class, potentially influencing educational outcomes.

Anticipatory socialization prepares individuals to take on the values and standards of groups they plan to join.

Secondary socialization occurs outside the home and often begins with school, introducing children to societal systems and rules.

The 'hidden curriculum' in schools includes learning societal norms, values, and beliefs beyond academic subjects.

Peer groups significantly impact socialization, influencing behaviors and attitudes through shared interests and social positions.

James Coleman's study showed that peer groups can shape academic performance and social traits.

Media, including TV and the internet, is a part of socialization, influencing attitudes and behaviors.

Total institutions, like the military or prisons, are places of resocialization, controlling all aspects of life to instill new norms and values.

Socialization is influenced by a variety of factors including family, schools, peers, media, and total institutions.

Sociologists study the impact of socialization on individuals and society, highlighting the importance of understanding these processes.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Macrosociology vs microsociology | Society and Culture | MCAT | Khan Academy

38 Bully Dog Breeds That Can Be Great Family Pets

THE ENGLISH BULL TERRIER DOG - Feisty & Sweet

25 Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs in USA

Pitbull - Dog Breed Information

Are NBA agents USELESS?

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
SocializationPersonalityCultureFamilyEducationGenderRaceClassMediaPeersInstitutions