Sociology

Part 1: Culture, Values, Norms

What is Sociology?

Sociology is the

study (-ology)

of society (socio-)

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Sociologists are interested in human culture.

Material v. Non-material Culture

• Material: the physical artifacts of a society
• art, buildings, weapons, clothing, I-phones
• Others?

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Material v. Non-material Culture

• Non-material: non-tangible shared culture
• ways of thinking, common beliefs, values, language and other forms of communication

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• Without language, there is no culture?

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Culture is…

…the collective behaviors, values, beliefs, and practices of a particular group of people.

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…the material traits and intellectual production of that people (ie. the arts, technology, etc…)

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…passed down through the generations.

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...dynamic and ever-changing.

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Values

• What do we find important in life?
• What principles do we live by?

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What are the most important values in America?

Norms

• Norms are the expectations, or rules of behavior that develop out of a group’s values.

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Sanctions

• Reactions that people get for breaking or following norms
• Positive sanctions express approval
• Rewards, hugs, smiles, high fives, money?
• Negative sanctions reflect disapproval
• Harsh words/gestures, dirty looks, getting fired or reprimanded, trouble with the law (when severe)

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Folkways

• Norms that are not strictly enforced
• Conformity is expected, but sanctions may be minimal
• Examples
• Respecting personal space
• Bringing a gift to a wedding
• Waiting your turn in line

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Mores (morays)

• Norms that are strictly enforced
• Essential to our core values
• Conformity is generally mandated by law
• Examples:
• Murder
• Rape
• Stealing

Taboos

• Norms that are so strongly ingrained that even the thought of their violation is met with revulsion
• Severe sanctions for non-conformity
• Examples:
• Bestiality
• Necrophilia
• Incest

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Subculture

• A world within the larger world of the dominant culture
• Subsets of values, norms, and cultural artifacts
• Examples:
• Occupational groups (teachers, doctors, waiters)
• Social groups
• Religious groups
• Sports Teams

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How many more examples can we think of?

Counterculture

• A subculture whose values and norms are at odds with the dominant culture

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• Examples:
• gangs
• polygamists
• nudists
• Others?

Sociology

Part 2: Socialization and Identity

Socialization

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• Socialization is the process by which individuals become competent members of a society.
• It is by this process that we are taught the values and norms of our culture.

In the absence of socialization…

What are “feral children”?

• Oxana Malaya
• Genie
• Genie short version

Looking Glass Self

Looking-Glass Self (p. 75)

• We imagine how we appear to others.
• We imagine the judgment of that appearance.
• We develop our self through the judgments of others.

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“Even if we grossly misinterpret how others think about us, those misjudgments become part of our self-concept”

Looking-Glass Self

Looking-glass Self: Identity

• The boy in the image sees four different selves through the looking glass. How does the boy decide who to be?
• Take a look at what you are wearing today. What does the theory of the looking-glass self say about how you chose the clothes that you have on? Discuss.

Looking Glass Self Meme Photoshop Project!

Draft your meme!

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2. Draw six boxes with the six captions.
1. 5 How my (parents, friends, teachers, brother, boyfriend, coach, etc.) see me
2. 1 How I see myself
3. Brainstorm or sketch what image might go in each box
4. Think deeply as you consider: How is your identity a construction of how others see you?

Freewrite 9.7

How do you see the concept of the looking-glass self playing out in teenage life?

In your own identity?

Agents of Socialization and YOU!

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We can be socialized in positive and negative ways.

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Explicit v. Implicit Socialization

• Explicit (direct): norms/values directly taught to you
• Your parents teach you to brush your teeth in the morning and in the evening.
• We learn in elementary school to raise our hand to speak.
• Implicit (subtle): norms/values you pick up by observing those around you
• Children who observe their mothers cooking and cleaning grow up with an idea about gender roles.
• Media images suggest that women should be thin to be beautiful.

“Agents” of Socialization

Institutions/influences that pass on expectations about values and appropriate social behavior:

• Family
• School
• Media
• Peers
• Religion
• Sports/Activities

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Brainstorm with a partner…

List at least 5 behaviors we have been socialized into that are positive.

• Example: washing our hands after we go to the bathroom.

List at least 5 behaviors we have been socialized into that are negative.

• Example: making fun of people

For each item on the list, try to determine which “agent” teaches the behavior and if the socialization was implicit or explicit.

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The family

The family

• Families introduce children to the expectations of society.

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• How parents define and treat a child is crucial to the development of the child’s sense of self.

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• Some families emphasize educational achievement; some may be more permissive, whereas others emphasize strict obedience and discipline.

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What are some ways your family socialized you?

Schools

Schools

• In school, teachers and other students are the source of expectations that encourage children to think and behave in particular ways.
• School broadens one’s perspective and social sphere
• Often, subtle messages about social roles are conveyed through classroom interaction and materials.

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What are some ways that school has socialized you?

The Media

The Media

• The average young person (age 8–19) spends 6 3/4 hours per day immersed in media in various forms, often using multiple media forms simultaneously.
• Television is the dominant medium, although half of all youth use a computer daily. Cell phones and tablets have kids more connected than ever before.
• Media messages are continuously affecting our perceptions about our culture and ourselves.

What are some ways that the media has socialized you?

Peers

Peers

• For children, peer culture is an important source of identity.
• Through interaction with peers, children learn concepts of self, gain social skills, and form values and attitudes.
• These interactions can have both positive and negative effects on the development of a young person’s identity.

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What are some ways that your peers have socialized you?

Religion

Religion

• Children tend to develop the same religious beliefs as their parents.
• Religious socialization influences one’s beliefs and plays a role in determining an individual’s value system
• Religious groups are often subcultures within the larger culture.

Has religion had a socializing force in your life?

Sports

Participation in sports has a socializing influence

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Teaches not only physical skills, but also values

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Through sports, we develop a sense of bodily awareness

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In our society, success in sports is often associated with masculinity, thus influencing a boy’s formation of identity

Have sports or other activities had a socializing effect in your life?

Are we prisoners of socialization?

• Identity is socially constructed,

but….

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• The individual is actively involved in the construction of the self.

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Free-write: How has your identity been influenced by one or more of the socializing forces we discussed here today? ��