The Individual and Society…Socialization

Nearly all human social behavior we consider natural and normal is learned and these things are learned through a process of socialization.

Socialization Learning the roles, statuses, behaviors, and values necessary for participation in society. Simply put… being able to live around other people. We begin learning from others during the early days of life; and most people continue their social learning all through life.

Personality Socialization helps to form the pieces of our personalities. In sociology, personality is the sum total of behaviors, attitudes, beliefs and values that are characteristic of an individual. Our personality traits determine how we adjust to our environment and how we react in specific situations. Peoples personalities continue to change and develop throughout their lifetime

What specifically determines your personality… Social psychologists have debated this for years It come down to heredity (traits are genetic) vs. social environment (learned behaviors from contact with other people). Simply put NATURE VS NURTURE!!

Nature argument This viewpoint has held strong since the 1800’s It states that much of human behavior is instinctual (meaning it is an unchanging, biologically inherited behavior pattern) They claimed that instinctual drives were responsible for practically everything including laughing, motherhood, warfare, religion, capitalism, and even the creation of society itself. At the height of it’s debate in the early 1900’s, social scientists claimed to have identified more than 10,000 human instincts For your viewing pleasure

Nurture Argument The work of Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov helped the viewpoint gain acceptance. Pavlov found that supposedly “instinctual” behavior can actually be taught. His theory was called condition theory. He believed any human or animal could be conditioned to act anyway. Although there is much debate, most social scientists agree that it is a blending of both that creates humans personalities.

What do you think? Nature or nurture? Does heredity give us patterns of social behavior or does environment dictate how we act socially? In other words, am I born an outgoing leader or does that environment/ atmosphere that I grow up in make me that way? Sociologists continue to debate this, but one thing is for sure… nature is never enough. Video on twins

What other Factors Shape Individual Personality Development? Heredity: physical traits, aptitudes (capacity to learn), inherited characteristics, biological drives. Simply put, you get a lot of who you are from your parents. Birth Order: We are influenced by siblings and whether or not we are first, middle, last, etc. Parental Characteristics: The age of your parents, level of education, economic status, heritage, etc all “rub off on you”… again… you get a lot of who you are from your parents…like it or not. Culture… the culture that we identify with has a profound effect on who we become. Birth order activity- everyone stand up

What can happen when there is a lack of one or more of these personality developers? Social Awkwardness What might cause someone to be “socially awkward”? Describe the traits of someone who is socially awkward (do not name names!!!) video

Famous people who have/had Asperger’s Asperger Syndrome Sometimes people can’t help it because they were born with neurological condition. Considered to be a form of Autism. A developmental disorder affecting a person’s ability to effectively socialize and communicate. Famous people who have/had Asperger’s Thomas Edison Beethoven Mozart Thomas Jefferson Charles Darwin Einstein Sir Isaac Newton Alfred Hitchcock Bill Gates

ANTHROPHOBIA= FEAR OF PEOPLE OR SOCIETY. WHAT IF… You didn’t meet people other than your parents until you were five, ten, or even fifteen? You were completely isolated? ANTHROPHOBIA= FEAR OF PEOPLE OR SOCIETY.

Reading What makes you who you are Reading and questions