nfluence. F In the United States, the primary agents of socialization include * Family and peer groups. * Mass media * The school Total institutions are primarily concerned with resocializing their members to help them learn new values and norms. T Resocialization is directed toward changing an individual's personality and social behavior. T One purpose of fairy tales is to help children master the problems associated with growing up. T A peer group is not very influential. F All of the following are examples of a total institution except Emergency room Agents of socialization Agents of socialization are specific individuals, groups, and institutions that provide the situations in which socialization can occur. Peer group A peer group is a primary group composed of individuals of roughly equal age and social characteristics. Mass media Mass media refers to newspapers, magazines, books, television, radio, films, and other forms of communication that reach large audiences without personal contact between the individuals sending the information and those receiving it. Total institution Total institution is a setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society for a set period of time and subjected to the control of officials of varied ranks. Resocialization Resocialization is the breaking with past experiences and the learning of new values and norms. Family * Principle social agent for children * Learn values, norms, and beliefs about society Deliberate: Instruction on honesty, saving money Unintentional: Behavior vs words Peer group Primary group composed of equal age and similar characteristic individuals * Extremely influential * Norms and values reflect the subculture of the group School * Major role in socialization with deliberate influence * Unintended socialization through teacher modeling of behavior School subjects, extracurricular activities, and cultural values Types of total institutions 1. Prison 2. Military camps 3. Psych hospital The Function of Fairy Tales Bettelheim: a) Help children to master problems of growing up b) Introduction to real world c) Structure and content A setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society for a set period of time and are subject to tight control. Total institutions Family socialization is the most important agent of socialization; however, peer group is an important agent of socialization as well. Explain how family and peer-group socialization differ. Family socialization is important because children first interact with these family members before anyone else. Because of this, children learn the values, norms, and beliefs of society through their families. However, peer group socialization focuses on the subculture of the group. Young people shape themselves into the kind of person they think the group wants them to be by adopting the values and standards of the peer group. Peer group socialization is the same as family socialization. F Mass media is a form of socialization. T The family is the least important agent of socialization in almost every society. F Fairy tales help introduce children to conflict resolution. T A peer group is a _______ group composed of equal age individuals with similar characteristics. Primary The family is the principal social agent for Children