Socialization Nature or Nurture Which is it?

Essential Questions: What purpose does socialization serve? How do individuals develop a sense of self? How does socialization occur? Who experiences socialization? LG: Students will be able to understand the role socialization plays in human development.

The Unit has three parts: Theories: Cooley-Looking Glass Self Mead-Stages of Self, Theory of Self Goffman-Presentation of Self Agents of Socialization Stages of Socialization

Nature vs. Nurture Isabelle Discovered at age 8 Secluded in a darkened room Her mother could not speak or hear When found she assessed at the level of an infant She did make remarkable progress- age 14 she was in 6 th grade, doing well in school and emotionally well adjusted Genie 14 year old who was confined since 20 months No one spoke to her. When found she assessed at an 18 month old. She is now in her 50’s and lives in a home for developmentally disabled adults

Looking Glass Self Charles Horton Cooley Self- distinct identity that sets us apart from others-continues to develop throughout our lives. We learn who we are by interacting with others. Looking Glass Self-the self is a product of interactions with others. Three Phases Imagine how we present ourselves to others Imagine how others evaluate us Develop some sort of feeling about ourselves Take a moment to discuss with a neighbor the negative aspects of the looking glass self.

George Herbert Mead Three Stages of Self The Preparatory Stage: Children Imitate people who they are around The Play Stage: Children become more aware of other people and they begin to imitate them. The Game Stage-around 8-9, children consider several tasks and relationships simultaneously. They start to consider roles of people around them. Generalized others- when an individual acts he/she takes into account an entire group of people. Example- a child acts politely to a parents because that is the expected norm.

Mead’s Theory of Self The most profound of Mead’s Theory is the Theory of Self; The self begins at privileged central position in a person’s world. Young children picture themselves as the focus of everything around them and find it difficult to consider the perspective of others. As people mature the self changes and begins to reflect greater concern for others. Significant others- individuals who are most important in the development of the self. Take a moment to share with a neighbor who significant others may be.

Goffman-Presentation of Self Many of our daily activities involve attempts to convey impressions of who we are. His research and observations help us to understand the sometimes subtle yet critical ways in which we learn to present ourselves. Early in life the individual learns to slant his or her presentation of the self in order to create distinctive appearances and to satisfy particular audiences. This is called impression management Dramaturgical approach

Freud and Piaget Freud stressed the role of the inborn self, among them the drive for sexual gratification-in channeling human behavior. Aspects of ones self is a social product, and aspects of ones personality are influenced by other people. Unlike Cooley and Mead the components of self work against each other. Piaget Worked with newborn babies Social interactions are essential to sense of self Moral development becomes an important part of socialization