THEORIES OF SOCIALIZATIONSymbolic Interaction TheoriesCharles Horton Cooley (1869-1929)Cooley’s Looking-Glass Self: a person’s self concept arises through considering his/her relationships to others.The development of the looking glass self emerges from:1. how we think we appear to others. We imagine how we appear to others.2. how we think others evaluate or judge us.3. how the first two make us feel.George Herbert Mead (1863-1931)Mead’s Stages of SocializationThe first stage is the preparatory stage – also referred to as the imitation stageSignificant others are those close to the child, such as mother, father or sibling.Stage 2: Play StageIn the second play stage, children become aware of social relationships and interactions.They begin to take on the roles of significant people in their environment.In the game stage, the child understands s/he and others take on multiple roles at the same time.These roles are organized in a complex system and the child develops a comprehensive view of the self.As children grow older they develop a conception of ‘self’ based on the balance of the “ME” and the “I”The “ME” is the part of our self that is aware of the expectations, attitudes and viewpoints of society.The Self is the Balance of the “I” and the “Me”REVIEW: SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISMThe self is a basic concept in symbolic interactionism, which requires the understanding of meaning, language and thought.It allows humans to reflect on themselves and argue with themselves helping to develop an accurate self image.The looking-glass self and the generalized other are parts of a larger tool which helps individuals develop their self concepts.These concepts help form who we are as individuals and lead to conclusions about the creation of a person’s self and socialization into a larger community.THEORIES OF SOCIALIZATIONSymbolic Interaction TheoriesSocialization is the life-long process of learning about ourselves in relation to expected behaviors and forms of interaction held by society-at-largeA large part of socialization is taking the role of the other -- the process of putting oneself into the point of view of another.Charles Horton Cooley (1869-1929)Cooley’s Looking-Glass Self: a person’s self concept arises through considering his/her relationships to others.The development of the looking glass self emerges from:1. how we think we appear to others. We imagine how we appear to others.2. how we think others evaluate or judge us. 3. how the first two make us feel. George Herbert Mead (1863-1931)Mead's theory of the social self is based on the perspective that the self emerges from social interactions, such as:• observing and interacting with others; for young children, the influence is mainly from intimates (parents, siblings) and then, as one grows older, teachers, peers, and so on.• responding to others' opinions about oneself1• and internalizing external opinions and internal feelings about oneselfMead’s Stages of SocializationThe first stage is the preparatory stage – also referred to as the imitation stage1 month – 3 yearsChildren lack an awareness of self in relation to others. Therefore, they can only imitate the action of others.Significant others are those close to the child, such as mother, father or sibling.Stage 2: Play StageIn the second play stage, children become aware of social relationships and interactions.They begin to take on the roles of significant people in their environment.3 -5 yearsDevelop skillsRole taking begins – creating, not imitatingStage 3: The Game StageIn the game stage, the child understands s/he and others take on multiple roles at the same time. These roles are organized in a complex system and the child develops a comprehensive view of the self. 2Role is determined by setting (such as a home, playground, school)Age 7-8 Mead called the abstract composite of societal values, social roles and social expectations the generalized otherMead’s Development of the ‘Self’: The “Me” and the “I”As children grow older they develop a conception of ‘self’ based on the balance of the “ME” andthe “I”The “ME” is the part of our self that is aware of the expectations, attitudes and viewpoints of society. The “I” is the more immediate, spontaneous, self-interested and self-centered component of personality. The Self is the Balance of the “I” and the “Me”The self exists as self-consciousness of both the ME (awareness and understanding of what society expects) and the I (my personal take on what society expects)The development of the self is ongoing and is a reflexive process3REVIEW: SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISMThe self is a basic concept in symbolic interactionism, which requires the understanding of meaning, language and thought.It allows humans to reflect on themselves and argue with themselves helping to develop an accurate self image. The looking-glass self and the generalized other are parts of a larger tool which helps individuals develop their self concepts. These concepts help form who we are as individuals and lead to conclusions about the creation of a person’s self and socialization into a larger community.