W9.1 April 29 (Mon)—CHENG SHIYI

1.Summary

 This article focuses on the concept of socialization and its role in individual development and society.

 Socialization is the process by which an individual adapts and develops in society, including goals such as impulse control, role preparation, and value development. Primary socialization occurs during childhood and adolescence, while secondary socialization occurs at other stages in the individual's life cycle to adapt to new social groups and situations. Socialization involves distinctions in content, context, and response, including the ability to regulate and adapt behavioral potential at different stages. Socialization is the result of the interaction of multiple social forces, including family, school, and peer groups, each with its own unique culture and norms. In the broad sense socialization promotes individualism and self-expression, while in the narrow sense socialization places more emphasis on obedience and conformity. Institutionalized socialization may involve holistic institutions, such as prisons and mental hospitals, that resocialize individuals through normative pressure and coercion. Later, the importance of socialization is highlighted in cases of feral children, such as their lack of basic social skills and adaptability, which underscores the necessity of socialization for the normal development of the individual.

 This is followed by an introduction to socialization theory and its development in social science research. First, it lists several different theoretical approaches to socialization, such as symbolic interactionism, role theory, reinforcement theory and internalization theory, emphasizes socialization as an ongoing, lifelong process, and explains its effects on individuals in relation to social interaction. Later on the article talks about socialization as the process of joining a group and addresses the problem of individual adaptation to society. Furthermore, Long and Harden's revised understanding of socialization defines it as "the medium that transforms newcomers into true members of the group," emphasizing that the essence of socialization is the integration of new members into the group.

 Three examples of socialization research are also provided, dealing with gender socialization, preparation for death, and the effect of academic track choice on IQ. These studies demonstrate the role of socialization in a variety of domains and contexts, ranging from family education to community culture to the school environment.

 The article concludes with a summary of the importance of socialization and how different social norms associated with culture affect the process and outcome of socialization. Although it is stated that the way in which each individual is socialized varies from culture to culture, socialization has a profound effect on an individual's perception of what is "normal" and "abnormal" and may be re-socialized as the social environment changes.

2.Interesting Point

In the beginning of the article a story is told: On November 4, 1970, child welfare authorities discovered a 13-year-old child who had been locked up in a bedroom of a house in Arcadia, California for the majority of her life. The young girl, known to the public as Genie (a pseudonym), was one of the worst cases in recorded history of extreme abuse, neglect, and social isolation.

There is another case of: in the 1980s. From about the age of three to the age of eight, Oxana began living with the family’s dogs after her alcoholic parents had forgotten her outside one evening. When authorities found her, she was running around on all fours and barking like her canine companions. However, through resocialization, Oxana was able to subdue her dog-like behaviors and eventually learned to speak Russian. Despite her progress, she remained somewhat intellectually-impaired due to the years of neglect and absence of human socialization.

For the two extreme isolated cases, this case highlights the crucial importance of human socialization for individual development. Secondly, the mention of other cases of feral children throughout history also deepens the understanding of socialization. Finally, the mention that different theoretical understandings of socialization will be further explored brings curiosity to our reading of this essay and makes one want to learn more about socialization.

3.Discussion

The criticality of the language acquisition period for the development of language skills is described in the case of Ginny and Oksana. So what are the consequences for the language acquisition period, and for the language development of individuals who miss it? What are the deficits in language development that result from the lack of human social interaction for individuals during the language acquisition period?