Course Syllabus
Course: Sociology 571-001 (Graduate Socialization)
Spring 2018
9:35 a.m.-10:55 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday
Grise Hall 138
Instructor: Dr. Steve Groce
Office:
131 Grise Hall
Phone: 745-2253
E-mail: steve.groce@wku.edu
Web
Page: http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Home.htm
Text:
There is no text book
for this course. Reading material comes
in the form of articles online at my web page.
Follow the course outline to know which articles you need to read for
which class meetings.
Note: Different
versions of Adobe Acrobat react somewhat differently to .pdf
files. If you try to open an article from the web page and you get
either a blank page or an error message, try downloading the most recent
(newest) version of Acrobat (free). If
that doesn’t solve the problem, try the following:
1) right click on the link
2) click “Save Target As”
3) save to your desktop
4) either
double click on the icon on your desktop, or open Acrobat and then open
the file from within Acrobat
Course Objective:
In some ways
socialization may be considered the foundational course in sociology. It is our discipline's contribution to the
"nature-nurture" debate. I
want students to come away from this course with a deep appreciation for the
countless ways in which the external--society, culture, language, interaction
with others--constantly molds, shapes, and influences everything from how we
learn to fit into society (norms, roles), to how we behave in the presence of
others (language, social interaction), to how we come to think about ourselves
as unique human beings (self, identity, gender identity), and finally, to how
we feel in different social situations as we interact with others
(emotion). In short, this course focuses
on how the social DNA surrounding us at every turn affects us over the entire course
of our lives--from the very moment we are born until we are no longer counted
among the living.
Attendance:
This is a graduate
level course that meets twice a week.
Need we say anything more about attendance???
Grade Determination:
I assign grades
based on: 1) three in-class exams; 2) three out-of-class projects in which you
conduct your own independent research into various aspects of the socialization
process; 3) a journal in which you write (at least three times a week) about
your thoughts on the socialization process, your sense of self and identity,
things you observe in the world around you that tell us something about
socialization, the assigned readings, our class discussions, etc. (Bring
journals to each class meeting to aid discussions); and 4) a number of
unannounced in-class quizzes.
I expect you to
take exams and turn in journals on the days designated in this syllabus. I accept only legitimate, documented
excuses. In all other cases I will deduct
one letter grade for each day your journal is late. You MUST turn in hard copies of your journals. I will NOT accept journals emailed to me (the
Sociology Department does not have sufficient resources to act as your personal
printing service—which it would, in effect, become if I had to print out your
journals in my office).
I grade on the
standard ten-point scale (90-100=A, 80-89=B, etc.). You will have four major grades this
semester, all of which carry the same weight--the three exams, plus the average
of your three journal grades. You will
have one minor grade--the overall grade on pop quizzes. The four major grades count two and one-half
times more than the minor grade in the determination of your final grade.
Note: In order for us to get maximum
benefit from this class, you will need to collect some materials from your
past. These materials include pictures
of you when you were a small child, favorite toys/books that you enjoyed when
you were little, board games you played as a child, and at least one high
school yearbook (senior year, preferably).
You will need to bring these materials to class as specified below.
Office Hours:
My office in 131 Grise Hall. My office hours are 7:00-8:00 a.m on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 3:00-4:30 p.m. on Mondays
and Wednesdays. If these times are not
convenient for you, just call me at the office or e-mail me and we'll schedule
an appointment.
Students With Disabilities:
In compliance with university policy, students with
disabilities who require accommodations (academic adjustments and/or auxiliary
aids or services) for this course must contact the Office for Student
Disability Services in DUC A-200 of the
The
DUC-A330)
Should you
require academic assistance with this, or any other, course, there are several
places that can provide you with help. TLC tutors in most major undergraduate
subjects and course levels throughout the week . To
make an appointment, or to request a
tutor for a specific class, call
745-6254 or stop by DUC A330. Log on to TLC’s website at www.wku.edu/tlc <http://www.wku.edu/tlc> to find out
more. TLC hours: M-Thur. 8am-9pm, Fri. 8am-4pm, Sat.-Closed, and Sundays
4pm-9pm.
Tentative Schedule
Jan. 23 Introduction;
basic concepts of socialization
Jan. 25 Basic
concepts of socialization; Culture and the socialization process
Readings: Zerubavel,
"The Social Lens"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/SocialLens-Zerubavel.pdf
Arnett,
“Broad and Narrow Socialization. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Broad
and Narrow Socialization.pdf
Jan. 30 Theories of socialization: Freud, Erikson, Piaget; assign
Project #1
Reading: Arnett, “Emerging Adulthood: A
Theory of Development. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/EmergingAdulthoodTheory.pdf
Feb. 1 Theories
of socialization: Bandura, Durkheim
Feb. 6 Theories
of socialization: symbolic interactionism; film
Readings: Becker, "Symbols and Minds"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/SymbolsandMinds-Becker.pdf
Berger and Luckmann, "Everyday Life and Social Reality"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/EverydayLifeandSocialReality-BergerLuckmann.pdf
Feb. 8 Theories
of socialization: symbolic interactionism; film
Readings: Thomas, "The Definition of the Situation"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/DefinitionoftheSituation-Thomas.pdf
Cooley, "The
Self as Sentiment and Reflection"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/SelfasSentimentandReflection-Cooley.pdf
Feb. 13
Theories of socialization: George Herbert Mead,
reference groups
Reading: Shibutani,
"Reference Groups as Perspectives"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/ReferenceGroupsasPerspectives-Shibutani.pdf
Feb. 15 Theories of
socialization: Chicago and Iowa symbolic interactionism
Readings: Zhao, “The Digital Self. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/The
Digital Self.pdf
Stein, “Getting Away From It All. .
.”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Constructing
Vacation Identities.pdf
Feb. 20 Language,
symbols, and emotions
Readings:
Hochschild, "Emotion Work and Feeling
Rules"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/EmotionalWorkandFeelingRules-Hochschild.pdf
Nenga, “Social
Class and Structures of Feeling. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Emotion
and Social Class.pdf
Tillery, et al., “Friendship and the Socialization of Sadness”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Friendship
and the Socialization of Sadness.pdf
Review for exam; turn in
journals
Feb. 22 Exam #1
Feb. 27 Childhood
socialization; film; return exams
Reading: Davis, "Final Note on a Case of Extreme Isolation"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/FinalNoteonaCaseofExtremeIsolation-Davis.pdf
Mar. 1 Childhood socialization; Project #1 due;
Assign Project #2 film; assign pictures
and toys
Readings: Cahill, "Children's Socialization to Civility"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/cahillchildren'ssocialization.pdf
Fine,
"Culture Creation and Diffusion. . ."
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/CultureCreationandDiffusionAmongPreadolescents-Fine.pdf
Mar. 6 Childhood
socialization: Gender and sexuality; pictures and toys exercise;
assign games
Readings: Strelb,
“Class Reproduction by Four Year Olds"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Class
Reproduction by Four Year Olds.pdf
Thorne, "Borderwork Among Girls and
Boys"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/BorderworkAmongGirlsandBoys.pdf
Thorne and
Luria, "Sexuality and Gender in Children's. . ."
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/SexualityandChildrensdailywords-ThorneLuria.pdf
Mar. 8 Childhood
socialization; games exercise; assign yearbooks
Readings: Myers and Raymond, “Elementary School Girls and
Heteronormativity
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/ElementarySchoolGirlsandHeteronormativity.pdf
Goldstein
and Oldham, "A Child's Eye View of Work"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/AChild'sEyeViewofWork-GoldsteinOldham.pdf
Ausdale
and Feagin, “Young Children’s Racial
and Ethnic
Definitions of Self”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Young
Children’s Racial Ethnic.pdf
Mar. 12-16 No
Class (Spring Break)
Mar. 20 Adolescent
socialization; yearbooks exercise
Readings: Simon, Eder, and Evans, "The Development of Feeling. .
."
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/DevelopmentofFeelingNorms-SimonEderEvans.pdf
Orenstein,
"Fear of Falling: Sluts"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/FearofFalling-orenstein.pdf
Milkie, “Media Images’ Influence on Adolescent Girls. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Media
Images Adolescent Girls.pdf
Mar. 22 Adolescent
socialization; film
Reading: Chaplin and John, “Growing Up
in a Material World. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Self
Esteem and Materialism.pdf
Best, “Parents, Kids, and Cars”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Parents
Kids Cars.pdf
Hoffner,
Levine and Toohey, “Socialization to Work in Late
Adolescence.
. .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Socialization
to Work in Late Adolescence.pdf
Mar. 27 Adolescent
socialization; film
Reading: Fox, et al, “The Role
of Facebook in Romantic Relationship
Development. .
.”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/The
Role of Facebook in Romantic Relationships.pdf
Mar. 29 Adolescent
socialization; Project #2 due; Assign Project #3; film
Apr. 3 Adolescent
socialization
Readings:
Karp, Holstrom, and Gray, "Leaving Home for College. .
."
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/KarpHolmstrom-LeavingHomeforCollege.pdf
Padilla-Walker, et al, “Because I’m Still the Parent, That’s Why:
Parental
Legitimate Authority During Emerging Adulthood ”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Because
I’m Still the Parent.pdf
Hamilton and Armstrong, “Gendered Sexuality
in Young
Adulthood”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/GenderedSexualityYoungAdulthood.pdf
Adult socialization: language, scripts
Apr. 5 Adult
socialization
Readings: Berger and Kellner, "Marriage and the Construction of. .
."
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/BergerKellner-MarriageandtheConstructionofReality.pdf
Doering, “Face,
Accounts, . . .in Relationship Breakups”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Relationship
Breakups.pdf
Hogergrugge,
et al, "Dissolving Long-Term
Relationships. . ."
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Dissolving
Long-Term Romantic Relationships.pdf
Vennum, et al,
“It’s Complicated: The Continuity and Correlates
of Cycling in Cohabitating and Marital Relationships”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/On
Again, Off Again Relationships.pdf
Apr. 10 Adult
socialization; Turn in journals; review for exam
Readings: Small, “Material Memories Ethnography. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Material
Memories.pdf
Rauer, et al,
“Growing Old Together. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Growing
Old Together.pdf
Schafer, “Parental Death and
Subjective Age: Indelible Imprints
from Early in the Life Course?”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Parental
Death and Subjective Age.pdf
Apr. 12 Exam #2
Apr. 17 Agents of
socialization: Family; Return exams
Readings: Betts, et al, "Parental Rearing Style As a
Predictor. . . "
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Parental Rearing Styles.pdf
Carlson and Berger, “What Kids Get from
Parents. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/What
Kids Get From Parents.pdf
Elliott,
“Parents’ Construction of Teen Sexuality. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Parents
and Teen Sexuality.pdf
Apr. 19 Agents of
socialization: Peer groups; film
Reading: Kwon and Lease, “Perceived Influence of Close
Friends, Well-
Liked Peers,
and Popular Peers”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Influence
of Peers.pdf
Faith
et al., “Recalled Childhood Teasing.
. .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Childhood
Teasing.pdf
Apr. 24 Agents of
socialization: Peer groups; film
Reading: Wooten, “From Labeling
Possessions to Possessing Labels. . .”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Ridicule
and Socialization among Adolescents.pdf
Manthos, et al, “A New Perspective On Hooking Up Among
College Students”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Hooking
Up.pdf
Stuber,
Klugman and Daniel, “Gender, Social Class, and Exclusion:
Collegiate Peer Cultures and Social
Reproduction”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Collegiate
Peer Culture.pdf
Apr. 26 Agents of
socialization: Education
Readings: Kapferer, “Socialization and the
Symbolic Order of the School”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Rituals
in Educational Socialization.pdf
Rosenthal
and Jacobson, "Pygmalion in the Classroom. . ."
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/RosenthalJacobson-PygmalionintheClassroom.pdf
Sulik
and Keys “’Many Students Really Do Not Yet Know How to
Behave!’ The
Syllabus as a Tool for Socialization”
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/The
Syllabus as a Tool for Socialization.pdf
May 1 Agents of
socialization: Mass Media; Project #3 due
Readings: Ryan and Wentworth, "Mass Media Effects I: Individual. .
."
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/MassMediaEffect1-RyanWenworth.pdf
Ryan and Wentworth,
"Mass Media Effects II: Societal. . http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/MassMediaEffects2-RyanWentworth.pdf
May 3 Agents of
socialization: Total institutions
Readings: Zurcher, "Navy Boot Camp: Role
Assimilation. . ."
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Zurcher-NavyBootCamp.pdf
Dyer,
"Anybody's Son Will Do"
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/Dyer-Anybody'sSonWillDo.pdf
Schmid and Jones, "Suspended Identity. . ."
http://people.wku.edu/steve.groce/SchmidJones-SuspendedIdentity.pdf
Turn
in journals; review for exam
Final Exam:
Thursday, May 10, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
If you have comments or suggestions, email me at steve.groce@wku.edu