SOC 101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Peer Pressure, Reinforcement, Nissan Stagea
4 Jul 2018
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“Unsocialized” Children
Socialization is the process whereby infants and children develop into social beings. Among
other things, children develop a sense of self, memory, language, and intellect. And in doing so,
they learn from their elders the attitudes, values, and proper social behaviors of the culture into
which they were born. Becoming socialized benefits the individual by giving him or her the tools
needed for success in the native culture, and also benefits the society by providing continuity
over time and preserving its essential nature from generation to generation. In other words,
socialization connects different generations to each other.
Stories of children found after years of living in the “wild” without any human contact
occasionally appear in the literature. One of the most commonly cited examples is
the Boy of Aveyron who emerged little more than a “beast” from a forest in France in
1798. “Unsocialized” children such as this boy typically look more animal than human,
prefer to remain naked (at least at first upon being discovered), lack human speech,
have no sense of personal hygiene, fail to recognize themselves in a mirror, show little
or no reasoning ability, and respond only partially to attempts to help them change from
“animal into human.” The phenomenon of feral (literally wild or untamed) children
sparks much discussion regarding the nature versus nurture debate because
research shows that the state of these children seems to suggest the important role that
learning plays in normal human development.
Social scientists emphasize that socialization is intimately related to cognitive,
personality, and social development. They argue that socialization primarily occurs
during infancy and childhood, although they acknowledge that humans continue to grow
and adapt throughout the lifespan. Sociologists also refer to the driving forces behind
socialization as socializing agents, which include family, friends, peers, school, work,
the mass media, and religion.
Social and Personality Growth: Age 7–11
Erikson's primary developmental task of middle childhood is to attain industry, or the feeling
of social competence. Competition (for example, athletics and daredevil activities) and
numerous social adjustments (trying to make and keep friends) mark this developmental stage.
Successfully developing industry helps the child build self esteem‐, which in turn builds the
self‐confidence necessary to form lasting and effective social relationships.
Self-concept in middle childhood
Most boys and girls in middle childhood develop a positive sense of self‐understanding, self‐
definition, and self‐control, especially when their parents, teachers, and friends demonstrate
regard for and emotionally support them, and when children themselves feel competent. When
lacking in one social area, children in this age group typically find another area in which to
excel, which contributes to an overall sense of self‐esteem and belonging in the social world.
For example, a child who does not like math may take up the piano as a hobby. The more
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Document Summary
Socialization is the process whereby infants and children develop into social beings. Among other things, children develop a sense of self, memory, language, and intellect. And in doing so, they learn from their elders the attitudes, values, and proper social behaviors of the culture into which they were born. Becoming socialized benefits the individual by giving him or her the tools needed for success in the native culture, and also benefits the society by providing continuity over time and preserving its essential nature from generation to generation. In other words, socialization connects different generations to each other. Stories of children found after years of living in the wild without any human contact occasionally appear in the literature. Social scientists emphasize that socialization is intimately related to cognitive, personality, and social development. They argue that socialization primarily occurs during infancy and childhood, although they acknowledge that humans continue to grow and adapt throughout the lifespan.
