Socialization as a Social Fact: Understanding the Interplay of Individual and Society

• In Event: Teaching Introduction to Sociology: The Content and Role of Introductory Sociology Courses

Abstract

The theme of socialization in the Sociology of Literacy Framework is framed more broadly than simply being about the process of socialization itself. It includes ideas as disparate as socialization, culture, norms, the self-fulfilling prophecy, deviance, and the self and social interaction. The common thread between these concepts is that they form the interstitial connections between larger social forces and individuals. These ideas have the potential to capture students’ imaginations and help them make sense of their lives. At the same time, these explanations for human behavior are in competition with commonsense individualistic explanations for human behavior that many students bring to class with them. Thus, the theme of socialization illustrates both pitfalls and potential in the introductory sociology class.

Author

• Gregory Trainor Kordsmeier, Indiana University-Southeast