Understanding Bad Faith, Socialization, and Deviance
Bad Faith
Bad faith is presented as something that is supposedly necessary. A person denies that there is a choice behind the situation, claiming they have no other option. However, there is always a choice. When someone acts in “bad faith,” they don’t believe they are deceiving themselves, but they always have options. For example, saying “I can’t come to sociology class” is not accurate. The truth is, one chooses to prioritize something else over attending that class. Using “can’t” is often an act of bad faith. Even a robbery victim can choose whether to negotiate or comply. In daily life, individuals constantly face choices, but often avoid acknowledging this freedom.
The Process of Socialization
Socialization is the process by which individuals in a society or culture internalize and learn standards, values, and ways of perceiving reality. This provides the skills needed to successfully interact within that society. Socialization is the initial experience with people. A biography is the story of one’s relationships with people, not with oneself. Knowledge of self comes from cultural guidelines. There are three stages:
- Taking the attitude of the other: The child learns to externalize behavior by imitating others.
- Assuming the role of the other: Through play, the child assumes different roles.
- The super-ego: Freud calls this the super-ego, which acts as an internal regulator governing our actions. It allows us to live with others by repressing impulses and guiding our actions.
Primary and Secondary Socialization
Sociology distinguishes between primary and secondary socialization. Primary socialization occurs in early childhood, forming the foundation for subsequent learning processes in secondary socialization. Primary socialization, typically around the first 7 years, is denser and more important for forging an individual’s identity. It is when the individual begins to become part of society. Secondary socialization is less intense, less important, and lasts throughout life. The individual becomes part of a subset of society.
Resocialization
Resocialization occurs when an adult experiences a situation that reconfigures their identity through intense new learning, similar to primary socialization. It can be assessed according to:
- Age
- Intensity
Examples include a construction worker from Andalusia or someone experiencing amnesia after an accident, resulting in paralysis.
Social Deviance
Social deviance refers to when an individual is not integrated, does not accept the rules, and is not part of the criteria of socialization. It is any behavior that deviates from generally accepted norms in a society. It is often assumed that a social deviant acts “because they want to,” such as criminals or prostitutes.
Labeling Theory
Labeling theory suggests that society punishes certain behaviors, leading people to perceive those labeled as deviants. Labels are not applied uniformly (e.g., differing views of terrorists in the Basque Country versus the rest of Spain). How others perceive and label someone influences their behavior. Different social groups create deviance by establishing rules, and violations of these rules constitute a deviation. These rules are applied to specific individuals. Deviation is not inherent in the action but is a consequence of the implementation of rules and sanctions by others. The deviant is someone who has been successfully labeled. Behavior is considered deviant when it is tagged as such by people.