Socialization: Nature vs. Nurture Influence

1. Part 1: Intro to Socialization

2. What is Socialization? • DEFINITION: the process by which individuals learn the ways of society and culture (basic skills, values, beliefs and appropriate behavior) • Necessary for a successful existence • Lifelong process

3. The Big Questions of Socialization • How do we learn to get along with others?

4. The Big Questions of Socialization • How do we learn to view ourselves as one among others? • How do others influence us?

5. Part 2: The Social Experience

6. What is Personality? • DEFINITION: the sum total of behaviors, attitudes, beliefs & values that are characteristic of an individual • Determines how we adjust to our environment & how we react in certain situations

7. Personality Development: Nature v. Nurture • Personality development, or a fairly consistent pattern of acting, thinking and feeling is shaped by BOTH biology and social experience

8. Personality Development: Nature v. Nurture • Charles Darwin (SOCIOBIOLOGY; NATURE): • All human behavior is instinctive; inherited behavioral patterns • John B. Watson (BEHAVIORISM; NURTURE): • All human behavior can be taught and learned

9. Nature or Nurture? • Brown eyes • Enjoys bungee jumping • 6’ tall • Red hair • IQ of 150

10. Nature or Nurture? • Weighs 500 pounds • Depressed • Alcoholic • Has cancer

11. Personality Development: Nature v. Nurture • Twin Studies: • Used to determine heritability; VERY important in understanding the role of genes and environment in forming an individual

12. Personality Development: Nature v. Nurture • Premise: • Since identical twins have identical genes, differences between them are solely due to environmental factors

14. Personality Development: Nature v. Nurture • Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein • A classic twinning study • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gwnzW4jOMI

15. A Case for Nature: Birth Order & its Influence • Research indicates that birth order DOES have an influence on personality development • ONLY CHILDREN: tend to endure pressure to achieve & excel; overactive and socially involved ; many are leaders; often worrisome

16. A Case for Nature: Birth Order & its Influence • OLDEST CHILDREN: tend to share traits with only children; cautious & achievement oriented • SUBSEQUENT CHILDREN: better in social relationships; more affectionate; friendly & creative; more sensitive & humorous

17. Silverman’s Class: Birth Order & Average GPA • Oldest/Only Child: 15 • Average GPA: 3.58 • Youngest Child: 14 • Average GPA: 3.35

18. A Case for Nurture: Environmental Factors • Parents: • A child’s FIRST attachment is to his or her mother • Later, both parents serve as role models & shape perception of sex roles & family members

19. A Case for Nurture: Environmental Factors • Culture: • A society’s cultural environment may determine which personality traits are emphasized • For example, American culture emphasizes competition and success

20. Social Isolation • Effects on Nonhuman Primates: • The Harry Harlow Experiment • Effects on Children: • The Wild Child

25. Part 3: The Process of Socialization Much research forms the basis for our understanding of human development…

26. Sociological Theories • Charles Horton Cooley (Looking Glass Self) • George Herbert Meade (Social Self)

27. Charles Horton Cooley: The Looking Glass Self • The Looking Glass Self: • Developing an image of oneself based on how we think others see us • “How do THEY react to my behavior?”

28. George Herbert Meade: The Social Self • Role Taking: • Take roles of others in society to better understand what YOUR expectations are • Usually starts with your closest relationships • EXAMPLES?

29. Part 4: Agents of Socialization

30. Agents of Socialization • Family • Peer Group • School • Mass Media

31. Agents of Socialization • The FAMILY: Structured • Principal agent of ALL children (0-adolescense) • Can be deliberate or unconscious • EXAMPLES: • Deliberate socialization? • Unconscious socialization?

32. Agents of Socialization • The PEER GROUP: Loose • Primary group; composed of those similar in age & background • Increasing importance during adolescence; focuses on the skills necessary to “fit in” to subculture • Group goals are often at odds with societal goals

33. Agents of Socialization • The SCHOOL: Highly Structured • Deliberate socialization • EXAMPLES: • Class activities/academic subjects • Values education • ***Peer groups present; family involvement

34. Agents of Socialization • The MASS MEDIA: Loose • TV, radio, magazines, internet, newspaper, etc. • Unconscious socialization (debatable) • Most influential form of mass media? • Television (98% of homes; 7 hours/day)

35. Agents of Socialization • Positive Impact of Mass Media: • Exposure to certain elements of society that one might not otherwise be exposed to • Negative Impact of Mass Media: • Exposure to violence • Impact of “popular” culture

36. Agents of Socialization • Secondary Agents of Socialization: • Clubs & Organizations (Boys Scouts, etc.) • Religious Affiliation • Government • Ethnic Group • Work

37. Agents of Socialization • Total Institutions: • Isolates members from the rest of society • EXAMPLES: • Prisons, psychiatric hospitals, monasteries • Generally, the primary goal of total institutions is to RESOCIALIZE, or the break with past experiences & learn new values

38. Part 5: Socialization & the Life Course

39. Stage 1: Childhood • Childhood: • First 12 years of life • Characterized by a certain level of freedom from responsibilities • Must acquire key life lessons

40. Stage 2: Adolescence • ADOLESCENT THOUGHT: • Argumentativeness • Motivated by the desire for independence and the ability to use reasoning • Indecisiveness • Caused by an increase in opportunities during adolescence

41. Stage 2: Adolescence • Fault in Authority • Adolescents begin to find fault in authority; realize that adults aren’t perfect • Apparent Hypocrisy • Develop ideals during childhood; want to follow them; may not always work out

42. Stage 2: Adolescence • Self-Consciousness • A belief in the uniqueness of thoughts & problems; leads to self-consciousness • Assumption of Invulnerability • A belief that one is incapable of being hurt and/or harmed (live forever, etc.)

43. Stage 2: Adolescence • Identity: • Teenagers seek to develop sense of self, including the role he or she will play in society

44. Stage 2: Adolescence • Achievement of Identity: • Choice of occupation • Adoption of values to live by • Development of a satisfactory sexual identity

45. Stage 2: Adolescence • Inability of Identity: • Role confusion • Difficulty with intimacy/relationships • Lack of personal satisfaction

46. Stage 2: Adolescence • We Are Young (Fun) • Glad You Came (The Wanted) • Somebody That I Used to Know (Gotye) • Wild Ones (Flo Rida) • What Makes You Beautiful (One Direction)

47. Stage 2: Adolescence • Starships (NickiMinaj) • Stronger (Kelly Clarkson) • Drive By (Train) • Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen) • Part of Me (Katy Perry)

48. Stage 3: Adulthood • Jobs, finance, marriage, pregnancy, health, fitness, stress, divorce, physical changes, death, etc.

49. Stage 3: Adulthood (Men) • Issues: • Tough Trap • Accidents • Violence • Suicide

50. Stage 3: Adulthood (Women) • Issues: • Beauty Trap • Eating Disorders • Depression • Double Standards