What makes you the person that you are? Write 10 responses to finish the following sentence: “I am . . .” Think of a variety of aspects of yourself – physical, emotional, strengths, weaknesses, likes/dislikes, etc.

What does it mean to be human? What is the source of our “humanness”? Are we born with these human characteristics Or, do we develop them through our interactions with others?

Give an example of an influence in your own life of each. QUICK FIRE Nature v. Nurture: Which do you believe has the most influence on the development of an individual? Explain. Give an example of an influence in your own life of each.

Nature Versus Nurture Nature Nurture A personality is the sum total of behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, and values that are characteristic of an individual. Heredity is the transmission of genetic characteristics from parents to children Instinct is an unchanging biologically inherited behavior Sociobiology searches for the biological basis of all social behavior Nature Social environment can imprint characteristics on a child Pavlov’s experiments showed that behavior could be taught Most social scientists believe personality arises from a mixture of both nature and nurture Nurture –

Socialization SOCIALIZATION - The lifelong process of social interaction through which individuals acquire a self-identity and the physical, mental, and social skills needed for survival in society.

QUICK FIRE Where are you in the birth order of siblings? First? Middle? Last? Only? Write five words that describe your personality. Choose one of your siblings. Where is he/she in the birth order? Write five words that describe his/her personality.

Factors in Personality Development Heredity Characteristics present at birth include hair type, eye color, and certain aptitudes. Biological needs include hunger and thirst. Culture decides how you will use or satisfy hereditary characteristics. Birth Order Personalities are influenced by brothers and sisters. Early-born siblings have different traits than later-born siblings. Parental Characteristics Age, level of education, religious orientation, economic status, cultural heritage, and occupation of parents can shape personalities of children. The Cultural Environment Each culture has set “model personalities.” Individuals experience a culture in different ways.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall Do you ever think about how other people see you?

QUICK FIRE When you woke up this morning and began to dress, why did you choose the clothes? For yourself or for others? “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” - Eleanor Roosevelt Do you agree or disagree? Explain.

The Development of Self Socialization is the interactive process through which people learn the basic skills, values, beliefs, and behavior patterns of a society. There are many theories of how individuals gain a self, or distinct identity that separates you from other members of society. A “clean slate” onto which anything can be written Believed adults could shape newborns’ personality Absorb the aspects of the culture they are in contact with Locke: The Tabula Rasa Process by which we develop an idea of self based on how we think we appear to others Three-step process Begins in infancy but continues throughout life Cooley: The Looking-Glass Self –

Mead: Role-Taking Seeing ourselves as others see us is first step Eventually take on, or pretend to take on, the roles of others (role-taking) Significant others are the people who are closest to us: parents, siblings, and others who directly influence our socialization As an individual ages, significant others grow less important

Generalized-other Occurs when an individual reaches a point in their socialization process that they have integrated the values and norms of a society in principle (not just because they don’t want to get punished)

Battle between the “me” and “I” The part of one’s self that is responsible for spontaneous, unlearned behavior The part of one’s self formed through socialization Example: The “I” wants to blurt out an answer in class as soon as it pops into your head. The “me” (socialized) considers the possible negative consequences (learned through socialization) and holds the “I” back.

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The Presentation of Self Dramaturgy Theory suggested by Erving Goffman States that social interaction is similar to a drama performance Suggests people are an audience, judging each others’ performances, trying to determine each individual’s true character Impression Management Attempt to play the role well and manage the impressions that the audience receives States that much of our time with others is spent trying to manage their impressions Goffman’s theory suggests that an individual’s self can be changed according to audience.

Agents of Socialization The primary agents of socialization in the United States are the family, the peer group, the school, and the mass media. As the principal socializer of young children, the family is the most important agent of socialization in most societies. As children grow older, forces outside the family—such as friends, school, and mass media—increasingly influence them. Resocialization, or the process of learning new values and norms, can be voluntary or involuntary.

How do fairy tales help to socialize children?

Primary Agents Sociologists use the term agents of socialization to describe the specific individuals, groups, and institutions that enable socialization to take place. Most important agent in most societies Usually first agent Can be intentional or unintentional Reflects the social groups family belongs to The Family Composed of individuals of roughly equal age and similar social characteristics Particularly important during pre-teen and early teen years Socialization focuses on values of the peer group The Peer Group –

The School The Mass Media Planned activities for the deliberate purpose of teaching skills Extracurricular activities intended to prepare for a life in society Transmit cultural values Unintentional socialization comes from teachers and peer groups The Mass Media Mass media: instruments of communication that reach large audiences without personal contact between those sending and those receiving the information, such as films, television, and radio Television is most common mass media Both positive and negative behaviors and beliefs are learned from television

QUICK FIRE Throughout your life, you have been resocialized upon entering a new stage of life or an new institution. Identify an example of a time that you experienced resocialization. What norms did you have break away from and what new norms did you have to take on?

Resocialization Resocialization involves a break with past experiences and the learning of new values and norms. Individuals choose to assume a new status Examples include going to college Voluntary Resocialization Often occurs in total institutions, or a setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society Examples include joining the military Involuntary Resocialization –

Reverend Jim Jones

Jonestown Guyana, South America

900 members of Temple commit suicide on command

TOTAL INSTITUTIONS GULP! A SETTING IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE: ISOLATED FROM SOCIETY CONTROLLED BY STAFF CHARACTERISTICS: SUPERVISION OF ALL SPHERES OF A PERSON’S LIFE STANDARDIZED, RIGID SYSTEM UNDERWHICH ALL LIVE FORMAL RULES AND DAILY SCHEDULES FOR ALL GULP! 15 15 15 15

QUICK FIRE 2 Identify a total institution (make sure it is an example of a TOTAL institution). List ways in which the institution resocializes members to the new norms. What is the process by which total institutions make a member give up old norms and take on new norms?

Functionalist View on Socialization Groups work together to reinforce (socialize) basic norms, beliefs, and values. i.e. the values of our legal system are reinforced by families and schools When not socialized, chaos/fragmentation

Conflict Theory’s View of Socialization Believe people are socialized to maintain status quo (don’t rock the boat!) Higher social classes are able to maintain advantages