Explain theory of socialisation.

Theory of Socialisation.

Here we will explain the concept of  Theory of   Socialisation .

 

A set of ideas provides an explanation for something, and we call it a theory.
A sociological theory. A sociological theory is a set of ideas that provides an explanation for human society. Thus Patrick Baert and Filipe Carreira D Silva define social theory as ‘a relatively systematic, abstract and general reflection on the workings of the social world’. Like all theory, sociological theory is selective. No amount of theory can hope to explain everything. Some of the most well-known theories of socialisation are as follows –

Theory of Socialisation

 

The Theory of Socialisation are as follows:-

 

Mead and his theory of development of self

George Herbert Mead (1863-1931) is generally regarded as the founder of symbolic interactionism. In Mead view, human thought, experience and conduct are essentially social. They owe their nature to the fact that human beings interact in terms of symbols, the most important of which are contained in language. Symbols provide the means whereby humans can interact meaningfully with their natural and social environment. Without symbols there would be no human interaction and no human society. Human interaction and human society is possible by the existence of common symbol, but actually accomplished by means of a process that Mead termed ‘role taking’

Mead argued that, through the process of role taking individuals develop a concept of “self”. Mead claimed that the idea of a self can only develop if the individual can ‘get outside himself in such a way as to become an object to himself’. Therefore, origin and development of a concept of self lie in the ability to take the role of another.

Mead saw two main stages in its development. The first, known as the play stage. According to him, young   children begin to develop as social beings by imitating the actions of those near them ‘Play’ is one of the ways by which children often imitate what adults do. For example,, children may play at being a parent, a doctor, a teacher or a nurse. The second stage in the development of self is known as the game stage. In playing a game, children come to see themselves in the roles of the others in order to appreciate their own particular role in the game. In order to play a game such as football or cricket, children must become aware of their relationship to the other players. According to him socialisation depends upon the child’s understanding of others’ views as important in her/his life.

Cooley and his concept of the looking glass self

Charles Horton Cooley, the American sociologist is best known for his concept of the “looking glass self”. Children develop a concept of themselves   with the help of others around them. She/he forms an idea about oneself based on the opinions of others about her/him. The knowledge about ourselves develops in us through the opinions and reactions of others around this. The social “looking glass self” consists of these other people through whom we build an image of ourselves. This knowledge about one’s self is first obtained from the parents and later it is reformed by the judgements of others.

The way in which the mirror helps us to form an opinion about ourselves through the clothing we put on, our face and figure/physique, in a similar manner we try to imagine how in another person’s mind we might appear through our behaviours, manners, and so on. For example, a child who is in the mood to create some mischief might want to lie to her/his parents. However, before creating the mischief, the child might reflect and think that if someone catches his lie, it will create a bad impression on his parents about him.

According to Cooley, there are three main features that make up the idea of the self. The first consists of our imagination of how we appear to the other person. The second feature consists of our imagination of the judgement that the other person makes by our appearances. The third feature consists of some feeling of self-importance, shame or self-doubt based on the imagination of the other person’s judgements about our appearances.

 Freud and his Psychoanalytic Theory

The Austrian neurologist and father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud believes socialisation demands that individuals must do away  with their selfish wants for the benefit of the larger society. Sigmund Freud argued that people possess an unconscious mind that contains repressed feeling and desires which they are not aware of.  To develop into a psychologically well-balanced adult, the child needs to learn to control these desires.

 According to him socialisation is a process that directs one’s cravings and instincts in ways that are culturally accepted by the society. He has explained the process of socialisation through three distinguishable parts of the personality i.e. “id”, “ego” and “superego”.

 The “id” consists of all kinds of basic impulses. It is the unconscious, selfish, impulsive and illogical part of the personality that always tries to increase the feeling of pleasure by avoiding pain.  For example, a child craving a second bowl of dessert constantly screamed until her parents gave her another serving.

 The “ego” is the referee between the “id” and the “superego”. It tries to maintain a balance between the “id” (basic impulses) and the “superego” (norms of the society). The “ego” tries to regulate our desires and cravings and helps us to obey the norms of society. As a referee the “ego” tries to control our impulses according to the norms of the society. For example, discount offers in shopping malls often tempt us, and we feel like purchasing as much as we can.

 However, we restrict ourselves to buying just a few products because we realize that buying everything at once might not

be a practical thing to do.

 The “superego” refers to the principles, rules and ethics that one learns through  the process of socialisation. The “superego” comprises

People internalise the norms of a society through socialisation.
The “superego” is the inner voice (‘conscience’) of the individual and in that inner voice the hopes, beliefs and guidelines

People organize the society. For example, Ruchi was eager to steal some grocery from the store without anyone noticing her. But, because she knew  that stealing is not the right thing to do so she did not steal even though

They would have never caught her.