SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

Socialization
Socialization Process
Socialization is the process and outcome of integration to
society through association, social interaction, and social
activities. Thus, individuals do not merely become members
or constitutive part of society but moreover become a
functional part of it by carrying out social processes.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

Socialization has two dimensions: the individual acting on

society, and the other one is society acting on the individual.
Both dimensions entail the following functions:
1. Personality and Role Development
2. Skills Development and Training
3. Values Formation
4. Social Integration and Adjustment
5. Social Control and Stability
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

Agents of Socialization
1. School
2. Peer Group
3. Church
4. Family
5. Work Place
6. Mass Media
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

Collective Behavior
It refers to the emergent, unstructured, and transitory
behavior of a group of people. To wit, the behavior is
characterized as :
1. Emergent. It rises at any given moment when the right
circumstances or situations trigger the behavior. The
behavior is unintentionally planned nor deliberately
organized.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

2. Unstructured. The behavior is not guided by

prevailing social norms. It does not follow any
predefined rules or procedures, nor does it
have predefined members and goals.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

3. Transitory. The prevalence of the behavior

depends on the volatility, ambiguity, or
intensity of the existing situation.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

Theories of Collective Behavior

1. Emergent Norm Theory. The people facing unusual or chaotic
situations generate their own interpretations to define or
understand the situation and through the interactions of people
results in a common redefined situation leading to the
emergence of new norms for people to behave collectively.
The theory was conceived by American sociologists Ralph H. Turner
and Lewis M. Killian.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

2. Contagion Theory. Feelings of restlessness,

directionless, and heightened emotions and
excitement spreads through the circular interaction
of individuals thereby reproducing similar
suggestive behavior. The theory in connection to
crowd behavior was conceived by French social
psychologist Gustave Le Bon (1841-1931).
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

3. Convergence Theory. Like-minded individuals

banded together tend to have shared
predispositions for certain forms of behavior.
4. Social Strain Theory. A combination of factors
generates the right conditions or situations
conducive to the development of collective
behavior.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

Social Strain Theory: Factors that generates the right

conditions or situations (Dr. Neil J. Smelser, Professor of
Sociology. University of California, Berkeley):
1. Structural Conduciveness. A favorable condition or
situation suitable for the development of certain
possible types of behavior.
2. Structural Strain. Frustrations over changing the reality
of the current crisis or situation.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

3. Generalized Belief. Uncertainties of the situation develop shared

beliefs of possibilities causing restlessness and agitation.
4. Precipitating Factors. Dramatic or tragic events that cause the
spark to ignite intense emotions and irrational behavior.
5. Mobilization. Provocation leading to a course of action
persuading individuals to join in an act of unison.
6. Social Control Failure. Social norms such as morals and laws have
lost control or guide over the behavior of people.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

Forms of Collective Behavior

A. Mass Behavior or Mass Action. Behavior displayed by the masses
characterized by simultaneous and widespread similar behavioral
ways that is individually carried out without coordination.
The following are manifested forms of mass behavior:
1. Fashion – valued styles of aesthetics
2. Fad – uso, pauso
3. Craze – kinababaliwan
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

4. Mass Hysteria – widespread anxiety caused by

unfounded belief, or perceived threatening
situations that are actually misunderstood or non-
existent.
5. Public Opinion – views, sentiments and judgments
of people
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

6. Propaganda – any technique directed towards influencing or

manipulating the mind setting of a group of people that lead
them to engage in collective behavior.
a. Rumor – tsismis, gossip
b. Mind Conditioning – firm and consistent repetition of a message.
c. Bandwagon – inviting or persuading other to join the rest of the
people.
d. Name Calling – malicious claims and accusations aimed at
damaging the reputation or image of somebody.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

e. Card Stacking – distortion, deception, and distraction as to cause

public confusion.
f. Glittering Generality – emphasizing on pleasing ideas that appeal
to the feelings of people as to cause public motivation as in the
case of using slogans or catchphrases.
g. Transfer – the association or attribution of things to cultural icons
that command respect, authority, or admiration as to cause
public support.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

h. Testimonials – an endorsement made by a famous

and trusted person attesting to facts as to cause
public approval.
i. Plain Folks – appearing to be like the rest of the
group in order to win public acceptance.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION
B. Crowd Behavior. Behavior displayed by a crowd
characterized by restlessness, directionless, heightened
emotions and excitement in given vicinity.
The following are manifested forms of crowd behavior:
1. Reactive Crowd – crowd behavior characterized by
passiveness reacting only through solicited responses or
stimulus as in the case of spectators in a hostage crisis
situation or curious bystanders turning-out in a road
accident.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

2. Expressive Crowd – crowd behavior characterized by

emotional releases through active engagement in social
activities as in the case of merry making, cheering,
performing dance, etc.
3. Panic Crowd – crowd behavior characterized by agitated
and irrational reaction as aggravated by heightened fear,
anxiety, nervousness, or tension in the face of a
threatening situation as in the case of dangers,
emergencies, disasters, or crisis.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

4. Acting Crowd – crowd behavior characterized by hostility

or aggression directed towards a target or source.
5. Riot – a band of hostile individuals spread over several
areas expressing collective grievance by displaying
random destructive behavior.
6. Mob – a band of hostile individuals concentrated in the
area where anger is directed towards a target or source
of frustration.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

C. Social Movement. It is a form of collective behavior

involving work efforts aimed at advocacy change.
American anthropologist David F. Aberle (1918-2004)
identified four types of social movements:
1. Revolutionary Movement – a social movement working
towards the total overhaul of the prevailing systems in
society and the institution of an entirely new system.
SOCIAL STRUCTURE, SOCIAL PROCESSES AND SOCIALIZATION

2. Reform Movement – a social movement working towards

transforming specific areas of current negative situation or
condition of society into positive results.
3. Redemptive Movement – a social movement working towards the
renewal of the individual’s whole-self as in the case of certain
religious groups.
4. Alternative Movement – a social movement working towards
changing some aspects of selected individuals as in the case of a
group of doctors calling on cigarette smokers to quit and
promote healthy lifestyle.