Socialization
High-Yield Summary
- Socialization = learning acceptable behavior through social experience. Cultural transmission = how a society socializes members; cultural diffusion = spread of norms/customs/beliefs between groups.
- 4 forms: primary (childhood, foundational), secondary (later, context-specific — e.g. workplace rules), anticipatory (preparing for future roles), resocialization (discarding old behaviors for a life change).
- Norms = boundaries of acceptable behavior, enforced via sanctions (positive or negative — negative includes fines, incarceration, corporal/capital punishment). Mores = widely observed norms; folkways = polite-behavior norms in specific interactions; taboo = socially unacceptable.
- Deviance = any norm violation (not necessarily negative). Social stigma = extreme disapproval based on perceived differences; can spread to associated people.
- 3 deviance theories: labeling theory (labels shape self-image + others' responses), differential association theory (deviance learned through exposure to deviant vs. norm-adhering people), strain theory (deviance from goals-vs-structure mismatch, e.g. 'American Dream').
- Conformity (matches group norms) — internalization (privately agrees) vs. identification (outwardly conforms only). Compliance (responds to a request from someone WITHOUT real power): foot-in-the-door (small→large), door-in-the-face (large→small, real goal), lowball (raise cost after commitment), that's-not-all (sweetens deal before decision). Obedience (responds to an order from perceived authority) — Milgram: 65% obeyed to max shock level.
Key Terms
- Primary socialization
- Foundational, childhood-based learning of society's broad norms and attitudes.
- Secondary socialization
- Later-life, context-specific learning of rules for a smaller section of society (e.g. a workplace).
- Labeling theory
- Labels given to a person shape both their self-image and others' responses, channeling behavior toward deviance or conformity.
- Strain theory
- Deviance as a reaction to the disconnect between socially approved goals and the social structure needed to achieve them.
- Internalization
- Conforming to a group while privately agreeing with its ideas.
- Identification
- Outwardly conforming to a group's ideas without personally believing them.
Compliance Techniques
| Technique | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Foot-in-the-door | Small request first, then a larger request |
| Door-in-the-face | Large request first, then the real (smaller) request |
| Lowball | Get commitment, then raise the cost |
| That's-not-all | Sweeten the offer before a decision is made |
Conformity vs. Compliance vs. Obedience
| Type | Source of pressure |
|---|---|
| Conformity | Group norm (majority influence) |
| Compliance | Direct request from someone with no real power |
| Obedience | Direct order from a perceived authority figure |
Common MCAT Trap
- Primary vs. secondary socialization is about scope, not just age — foundational/childhood vs. later/context-specific.
- Match deviance theory to mechanism: labeling = effect of the label itself; differential association = learned via exposure; strain = goals-vs-structure mismatch.
- Conformity/compliance/obedience differ by source and power of the pressure — group norm vs. powerless requester vs. perceived authority.
- Milgram's 65% obedience rate was far HIGHER than predicted — don't round this down to 'most people refused.'
Quick Recall
A salesperson asks for a small favor, then later a bigger one. Which compliance technique?
A person conforms outwardly to a group's views but privately still disagrees. Internalization or identification?
A person turns to crime because they can't achieve the 'American Dream' through legitimate means. Which deviance theory?
What percentage of Milgram's participants continued to the maximum shock level?
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