SOCIALIZING THE INDIVIDUAL SOCIALIZATION n Socialization is the

SOCIALIZING THE INDIVIDUAL

SOCIALIZATION n Socialization is the lifelong social experience by which individuals develop their human potential and learn culture.

Social experience is also the foundation for the personality, a person’s fairly consistent patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting

Personality n n The sum total of behaviors, attitudes, , beliefs, and values that are characteristic of an individual Determines how we adjust/react Unique Develops over time

PERSONALITY n personality development more obvious in childhood ( rapid physical, emotional, intellectual growth)

PERSONALITY What are the 4 main factors that affect development of personality?

PERSONALITY n n HEREDITY BIRTH ORDER PARENTAL CHARACTERISTICS CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT

NATURE VS NURTURE n n 19 th century an intense debate regarding the relative importance of nature (biology) and nurture (socialization) in the shaping of human behavior. Modern sociologists view nurture as much more important than nature in shaping human behavior.

Nature vs. Nurture n Heredity- the transmission of genetic characteristics from parents to children VERSUS n Social environment- contact with other people

Nature argument Instinct- an unchanging biological inherited behavior pattern (animal behavior) n n Instinctual drives… motherhood, laughing, religion

Nurture argument Ivan Pavlov’s work w/dogs n Russian scientist that showed instinctual behavior could be taught http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=hh qumfpxuz. I&feature=related n

NATURE VS. NURTURE n n Studies of twins (including identical twins) shows that socialization and heredity both contribute to human development The Nature versus Nurture debate continues

Nature argument n n n Sociobiology- systematic study of biological basis of all social behavior Certain cultural characteristics and behavioral traits are “rooted” in genetic makeup of humans Human social life is determined by biological factors

Reflection n n Describe the nature versus nurture viewpoints of personality developments. Which argument do you support? Explain

HEREDITY Characteristics present at birth n Body build, hair, eye color, skin pigmentation n Aptitude- capacity to learn a particular skill or acquire knowledge (natural talent) n “inherited aptitude”- environmental factors Ex. Parents’ response can encourage/discourage n

HEREDITY Heredity provides you with biological needs n Culture determines how you meet these needs n Shapes human personalities by setting limits on the individuals http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=eg XIk_4 -q. MY n

Birth Order n Order in which we are born influences our personalities

Birth Order n n First Born…. achievement oriented Last Born…social Middle child… Only child… What is your birth order?

Parental characteristics n n n Age of parents Level of education Religious orientation Cultural heritage Occupational background

Parental characteristics n n n Compare teenage parents with 30 year old parents. How might the personalities of those children be different? Similar? Think about education, economics, etc?

The cultural environment n n n Culture influences personality Determines basic types of personalities found in society The Ik of Uganda (case study)

How we experience our culture influences personality I. E. gender, subculture, region, neighborhood n

Culture environment n Complete the cultural diversity test on page 104.

Closure n n What are the 4 main factors that affect personality development? Which factor has more influence on personality development and which less?

POINTS TO PONDER n n How does isolation in childhood affect development? Make a list of characteristics a child might exhibit if he or she were raised isolated from their families….

Isolation in Childhood n Feral children- wild or untamed – found living in isolation in homes Case studies of isolation have led Sociologists to conclude that our personality comes from our cultural environment!

ISOLATION IN CHILDHOOD n n Anna-was confined to attack space, given no social attention. When found (at age 6) she had no interest in people. She could not walk, talk or feed herself. Died at 10 from malnourishment. Isabelle-was restricted to a dark room, but did have her mother (who was deaf). When found at age 6, she could not speak, but eventually did learn to communicate (shows that social deprivation can be overcome!)

n n Genie was raised in near isolation for the first twelve years of her life. Lived in almost complete silence, and was beaten if she made noise. She did not learn how to talk. After she was found, she had the skills of a 1 year old. After 8 years of training, she never progressed past the 3 rd grade level. Never able to function as a social being, but could conform to basic social norms. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=th. IDCL 3 NCl. Q&feat ure=related

ISOLATION IN CHILDHOOD n n Lack social skills human characteristics Lack reasoning, manners, ability to control bodily functions or move like humans lack the ability to speak

ISOLATION IN CHILDHOOD Research on the effects of social isolation demonstrates the importance of socialization. n All the evidence points to the crucial role in social development in forming personality. n

INSTITUTIONALIZATION Orphanages and hospitals can often create the same characteristics of isolated children Spitz’s research on institutionalization on infants in orphanage: n Human interaction is important n Lack of caring environment: develop much slower, mentally, physically, emotionally. n

THE SOCIAL SELF n How does a person’s sense of self emerge?

Tabula Rasa n John Locke: we are born with a clean slate

The Looking-Glass self n n n Charles Horton Cooley Interactionist perspective Interactive process we develop an image of ourselves based on how we imagine we appear to others

Example n Mattie is a new sociology professor at the local college. During her first lecture, she noticed that some students were yawning. Based on her interpretation of the students yawning, Mattie has decided she is a boring teacher.

Cooley n n The formation of the self – the set of concepts we use in defining who we are – is a central part of the socialization process. The self emerges in the course of interaction with other people

George Herbert Mead n n n Interactionist perspective Idea similar to Cooley Role taking: we see ourselves as others see us but take on or pretend to take the roles of others imagining the situation from that person’s point of view, a process called taking the role of the other. Internalize the expectations of the people closest to us (significant others)

Mead The self develops through several stages: n Imitation. n Play, in which children take the roles of significant others. n Games, in which they take the roles of several other people at the same time. n Internalized attitudes, expectations, and viewpoints =the generalized other n

Mead n n I= unsocialized, spontaneous selfinterested component of personality and self identity Me= aware of expectations and attitudes of society- the socialized self

Creating a sense of self : Mead • Criticized for ignoring the role of biology in the development of the self. • Self-image is differentiated from self-conception. Self-esteem is governed by appraisals, social comparisons, and self-attribution. Personal efficacy is another aspect of self-evaluation • Conclusion: Mead showed that symbolic interaction is the foundation of both self and society

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION • Specific individuals, groups, and institutions that enable socialization to take place. • Family, the peer group, the school, and the mass media

Family n n most important of the agents of socialization Primary socializer of young children determining one's attitudes toward religion and establishing career goals. Unintended or deliberate socialization

Peer Group n n n Peers refer to people who are roughly the same age and/or who share other social characteristics Influential during the pre-teen/early teenage years w/out peer acceptance…misfits, outsiders,

School n n Major role in “deliberate” socialization Class activities deliberate teaching Extracurricular activities prepare students for life in larger society Transmit cultural values: patriotism, responsibility, citizenship

School n n Teachers become role models (manners, speech, style) Peer groups and cliques

Mass Media n n Instruments of mass communication reaching large audiences No personal contact Books, film, internet, magazines, newspapers, radio, television Which form has the most influence?

Mass Media n n n 98% of homes in US have TV’s Average more than 2 tv’s per home Children watch avg. of 28 hrs a week Ongoing debate over TV violence What are negative and positive aspects of the effects of mass media on socialization?

Resocialization Setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society for a set period n Subject to tight control I. E. prisons, (military)boot camp, n

Resocialization n n Total institutions concerned w/ resocializing members Learn new values/norms Changing personality/social behavior How is this done?

Resocialization n Strip away individual identity Replace inst. Identity Uniforms, deny freedom http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=PA S 4 u. SDJe 9 k&feature=channel http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Qd 7_yp 0 Hkwc