Chapter Four: Socialization
Discuss George Mead’s concept of the stages children pass through to learn about society and society’s expectations.
Feedback: George Mead’s important insight is that the self emerges as the result of social experience. He saw this as a
progression through three stages during childhood: (1) Imitation stage—infants learn to distinguish themselves from
others from the actions of their parents; by age two, they can react to themselves the way others would react to them.
(2) Play stage (ages 4–7)—time is spent playing and taking the role of others, developing a rudimentary understanding
of adult roles and how those in different roles interact with children. The play stage provides clues for children as to
who they are and prepares them for later life. (3) Game stage (around age 8)—children learn to participate in
structured activities like sports, understanding and abiding by the rules. The more complex assessment of the roles of
all the players and how to adjust behavior accordingly, shows that children have incorporated and understand the
pressures of society, which Mead called “generalized other.”
Source ID: 3.0.2
Learning Objective: LO 4.2: Identify which theory you think best describes the socialization process.
Topic/Concept: Socialization Theories
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q4.3.53
Discuss the four major agents of socialization.
Feedback: (1) The family is the primary agent of socialization. The family indoctrinates the child in the ways of society.
Children internalize society’s values and norms so they will act according to parental expectations, even when no
one is watching. (2) Schools provide a more uniform indoctrination of youth in culturally prescribed ways. In
addition to the formal curriculum, young people are also exposed to the hidden curriculum, which includes
expectations about appropriate skills, character traits, and attitudes that pay off. (3) Peers become increasingly
important as transmitters of social norms and values as children get older. Through a system of observation and
constant feedback from peers, children learn ideas about in-groups and out-groups, cultural norms, and gender–
appropriate behavior. (4) The media today plays a large role in socialization because children spend so much
time with it. Critics point to the sexual and violent nature of movies, television, and music as a source of some of
society’s problems.
Source ID: 3.0.3
Learning Objective: LO 4.3: Understand how the four major agents of socialization impact the individual.
Topic/Concept: Society’s Socialization Agents
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Skill Level: Apply What You Know
TB_Q4.4.54
Discuss primary and secondary groups. What distinguishes each type of group and what role does each group
play in socialization?
Feedback: Primary group members are most intimately involved with each other. These groups are small and display face–
to-face interaction. They are informal in organization and long-lasting. The members have a strong identification,
loyalty, and emotional attachment to the group and its members. Examples are the nuclear family, a child’s play
group, and close friends. Primary groups are crucial to the individual because they provide members with a sense
of belonging, identity, purpose, and security. Thus, they have the strongest socialization influence on the attitudes
and values of members. Secondary groups are larger and more impersonal. They are formally organized, task
oriented, and relatively impermanent. The individual member is relatively unimportant. The members may vary
considerably in beliefs, attitudes, and values. Americans are greatly affected by this type of group. Examples
include schools and the government.
Source ID: 3.0.4
Learning Objective: LO 4.4: Critique the idea that the group affects individual perceptions.
Topic/Concept: The Power of the Social Group
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Skill Level: Analyze It
TB_Q4.4.55
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