The Concept of Socialization, Essay Example

The concept of socialization relates to the role an individual plays within the larger community of people.  How you interact and connect with that world through your beliefs, values, culture, and role as a citizen in society.  Within the concept you act out socialization as a friend, acquaintance, lover, colleague worker etc.  Society imposes a certain degree of what is deemed as acceptable behavior and this is taught by the family and schools.  Anti-social behavior tends to rebel against these considered ‘norms’ and is essentially a statement of non acceptance or lack of conformity.  The media slots into this concept as a powerful agent as a powerful agent that informs how we react and interface with the world in which we live.  It is essentially a mediator of our relationship with society.  ” We base most of our knowledge on government news accounts, not experience. We are dependent on the media for what we know and how we relate to the world of politics because of the media-politics connection. We read or watch political debates followed by instant analysis and commentary by “experts.” Politicians rely on media to communicate their message”  (Anon, 2009)

The recent devastating earthquake in Haiti where the media reported an estimated death toll in excess of 50,000 people was broadcast by TV news reporters world-wide.  The powerful images shown on Television together with “on the ground” journalism illustrated the horror of the aftermath of an earthquake and the terrible plight of the poor people.  A nation already high on the poverty list plunged into even darker depths of despair because of a lack of resources that included water, food, medicine, temporary shelter and inability to deal with both living survivors and the dead.  The message was clearly intended to reach the world Governments, United Nations and Industry – a cry for immediate help and assistance.  It equally informed the public who become powerful lobbyists to their Governments in order to support the urgent needs of the country.   The USA was quick to respond ” US President Barack Obama says the scale of the devastation in Haiti is extraordinary, and it will take time to establish distribution points so food and water can be delivered safely and effectively. “I want the people of Haiti to know that we will do what it takes to save lives and to help them get back on their feet,” he added” (Price, 2010).

Social deviance is a term that is used to describe a shift away from normal behavior patterns.  It can equally be manipulative when being used by the mass media.  We rely upon the media for accuracy of reporting and factual information. With increased competition between the media service providers they are adopting alternate strategies to increase their network coverages  ” In order to survive, they are increasingly turning to other strategies such as entertainment, titillation, scandal mongering, and spreading fear – and spending fewer resources on serious researching of news.”  (Fogg, 1999).  The media tends to condition people playing upon base instincts.  People are more fascinated by bad news and sensationalist stories that focus upon subjects like danger, food, sex etc.  Audiences ere statistically proven to pay more attention to stories on crime and disaster, an almost primeval  instinct we all respond too.  Stories reported like that of Jack the Ripper in 1888 have created lasting impressions of the sex killer and stalker and stereotyped this individual ” Many women are afraid of sex monsters like Jack the Ripper lurking in the dark, although they are much more likely to be victimized by someone in their own circle of acquaintances.” (Fogg, 1999).  Hence the question of putting reported stories or news into the true context of events.  Although sensationalism grips and sells news it is not always factually correct or equally can be skewed into a specific direction such that those who are reading it are made to receive and understand the messages in such a way as the media prescribes them to you.  This can be extremely powerful and potentially dangerous.    Consider the statement that the media might put forward ‘ all terrorists are murders and therefore should be rounded up and executed’  by contrast ‘ one mans terrorist is another persons freedom fighter’. The first statement is both blunt, direct and has a specific outcome – death!   The second considers two points of view – the person committing acts of terror is doing so for a specific cause – the pursuit of freedom and liberty for his country that is being occupied or transgressed.

The reports of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq can very much influence the audience on the interpretation of events.  The reaction to the killing of USA troops is far more likely to gain a reaction than say the destruction of the Taliban or Iraqi resistance fighters.  The treatment of the African people by a brutal regime in Zimbabwe is largely ignored because a lack of media reporting, the regime having banned the media from reporting in the country.  Hence media reporting coming from South Africa is often based upon interpretive reporting and as such not representing the true horrors of the events taking place in that country.

Crime stories are often framed by the media to consider aspects of the individual committing the crime ” The main cause of crime is perceived to be moral defects in the individual and – in the case of reoffending – an ineffective penal system. Social and structural causes of crime are seldom discussed because they do not fit into this frame and because such discussions are less newsworthy and button pushing.” (Fogg, 1999).

Works Cited

Anon. (2009). A Sociological Perspective on Media. Retrieved 1 15, 2010, from Mass Media and Society: http://www.public.asu.edu/~zeyno217/365/notes1.html

Fogg, A. (1999). Cultural Selection. Retrieved 1 15, 2010, from Cultural selection © 1999: http://www.agner.org/cultsel/chapt9/

Price, M. (2010, 1 15). LIVE: Haiti earthquake 15 Jan . Retrieved 1 15, 2010, from BBC World News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8460771.stm