College of the Social Sciences and Development

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Introduction to Sociology
Socialization and the Self

Socialization (Part 2)
Socialization and the Self

The formation of the self is a central part of the socialization process. It is not a biological given but emerges in the course of interaction
with others and is affected by the social structures in which these interactions occur.

The self represents ideas we have regarding our attributes, capacities, and behavior.

The Looking Glass Self (Charles Horton Cooley)

The looking-glass self refers to the way in which the reactions and perceived judgments of others to ourselves provide us with
feedback about ourselves and develop our sense of self. Our self-image is created in the social arena and is derived from the
interaction between how we see ourselves and how others see us.

There are three elements to the looking-glass self:

1.
2.
3.

We imagine how we seem or appear to others.

We imagine how that appearance is judged by others.
We experience a feeling or some type of reaction (such as pride or shame) to this perceived judgment. This feeling is not from
ourselves, but rather from the way we are reflected in other people's minds. This is then reflected in how we see ourselves and behave.

The Generalized Other (George Herbert Mead)

We gain a sense of selfhood by acting toward ourselves in much the same fashion that we act toward others. In doing so, we take the role
of the other toward ourselves.

We are simultaneously the subject doing the viewing and the object being viewed. In our imagination, we take the position of another
person and look back on ourselves from this standpoint.

The subject aspect referred to as I and the object aspect referred to as me.

According to Mead, the key to childrens development of the self -- a key part in socialization, resides on the acquisition of language.

We communicate with ourselves internally (self - communication) the way we communicate with others in a conversation. Self
communication is essential to social interaction.

3 Stages in developing a full sense of selfhood:

1.
2.
3.

Play stage
Game stage
Generalized other stage

In play stage, one takes the role of only one person at a time and try on the persons behavior. The model usually an important person in
ones life. (e.g. parents). This model is called the significant other.

In game stage, one assumes multiple roles. Individuals must take into account the roles of many people, and they become familiar with the
expectations that hold for a variety of roles if they are to play their own roles successfully.

In the third stage, one recognizes that he/she is immersed within a larger community of people and that this community has definite
attitudes regarding what constitutes appropriate and inappropriate behavior. The social unit gives individuals their unity of self and this is
called the generalized other.

Dramaturgy (Erving Goffman)

In dramaturgical sociology it is argued that human actions are dependent upon time, place, and audience. In other words, to Goffman, the
self is a sense of who one is, a dramatic effect emerging from the immediate scene being presented.

College of the Social Sciences and Development

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Introduction to Sociology
Socialization and the Self

Performances can have disruptions (actors are aware of such) but most are successful. The goal of this presentation of self is acceptance
from the audience through carefully conducted performance. If the actor succeeds, the audience will view the actor as he or she wants to be
viewed.

"What is important is the sense he provides them through his dealing with them of what sort of person he is behind the role he is in.
(Erving Goffman, pp. 298)

The individual identity is performed through roles and consensus between the actor and the audience.

Therefore, dramaturgical theory suggests that a person's identity is not a stable and independent psychological entity, but rather, it is
constantly remade as the person interacts with others.

Social interaction is analyzed in terms of how people live their lives like actors on stage. As on a stage, people in their everyday lives
manage settings, clothing, words, and nonverbal actions to give a particular impression to others (also referred to as impression
management)

Goffman makes an important distinction between "front stage" and "back stage" behavior. As the term implies, "front stage" actions are
visible to the audience and are part of the performance. People engage in "back stage" behaviors when no audience is present.

Status and Roles

Social Positions

We know that participants in a social systems are not all expected to do the same things. A particular norm is applicable to each
depending on their social positions within the system.

Social position is comprised by two parts, I.e., his/her obligations (role) and rights (status).

Social Position: Social identity the individual has in a given group or society. It may vary in nature (such as gender roles) or maybe
much more specific (such as occupational positions).

Social Status

You occupy a status, but you play a role. -Ralph Linton

Every position or status in society carries in it an expected behavior pattern.

Individuals in society can take up a number of statuses, e.g. A woman can be a doctor, musician, mother, and wife. Though one can
take up multiple statuses, the master status define a person socially.

Relational Term
o Most sociologists define status simply as a position occupied by an individual in a social system. In these sense, status is
purely categorical and it exists when it is related to other more statuses. (e.g. husband and wife)
Participatory status
o Since statuses are positions in a social system, they exist independently of the particular individuals who occupy them.
Consequently, a status may exist even when no one is occupying it.

Status: the social honor or prestige which a particular group is accorded by other members of society. Status groups normally involves
distinct lifestyles -- patterns of behavior which members of a group follow.

Status is derived from social honor and prestige.

Types of Status

Ascribed status
o A social position which is usually assigned from birth and most of the time, permanent. (e.g. caste system, gender
difference, and age)

Achieved status

College of the Social Sciences and Development

Department of Sociology and Anthropology
o
o

Introduction to Sociology
Socialization and the Self

One that is chosen or achieved. It is acquired through ones own effort.

An achieved status is entered as a consequence of some degree of purposive action and choice.

Social Roles

Each status typically has multiple set of roles. The collection of roles in a given status is referred to as the roles set.

Social roles regulates and organizes behavior. In particular, they provide means for accomplishing certain tasks.

Role pattern emphasizes performance, and is relatively regardless of age, sex, and group membership.
o

Types of Role

Ascribed Roles

A role that an individual acquires automatically at birth, or on the attainment of a certain age. (e.g. role of being an
eldest son (parents) and being a brother (sibling).
Achieved Roles

A role that an individual has because he has either chosen or earned it.

Status is a structural phenomenon, Role is a behavioral phenomenon.

Status depends upon social structure while role depends on the personalities and capabilities of the individual.

Since norms are attached to statuses, statuses may change too, since norms are dynamic.