1. SOCIALIZATION

2. Objectives Understand the definition of socialization and human development Introduce the Agents of Socialization Introduce the Theories of Socialization Analyze the debate of Nature vs. Nurture

3. SOCIALIZATION Socialization – the process of learning how to interact in society (language, behaviors, manners, etc.) How humans learn how to become members of society Agents of Socialization : Family, Media, Education, Peer Groups

4. SOCIALIZATION SOCIALIZATION IS ESSENTIAL: – For an individual’s survival and for human development – For survival and stability of society – socialization helps maintain an existing social structure

5. SOCIALIZATION SOCIALIZATION IS INFLUENCED BY: – The type of society – The subcultures within a society (class, race, ethnicity, religion, gender) – Unique individual experiences (family, friendship groups)

6. HUMAN DEVELOPMENT To be human means to be conscious of ourselves as individuals with unique identities, personalities, and relationships with others But how do humans learn how to be human? Are we born with these human characteristics or do we develop them through interaction with others?

7. NATURE VS NURTURE Nature vs. Nurture – which has a greater impact on human development – heredity (inherited traits) or society (your environment)? Nature - genetic makeup is the primary factor in determining human behavior. –Physical experience and personality characteristics

8. NATURE VS NURTURE Nurture – environmental variables (early childhood experiences, how we are raised, our social relationships, and our surrounding culture) effect who we are

9. Theories of Socialization Socio-biologists – Support nature - argue that our genetic makeup is the primary factor in determining human behavior. Sociologists criticize this view because behavior varies among cultures, classes, regions, etc.

10. Looking Glass Self Charles Horton Cooley – wondered how human infants developed a sense of self – the ability to see themselves “from the outside” Looking-Glass Self – our interpretation of how others see us; the ability to contemplate our past, present, and future existence; develops from interaction with others.

11. Looking Glass Self Looking-Glass Self contains 3 elements: 1.We imagine how we look to others (tall, short, fat, thin) 1.We interpret others’ reactions (how we think others evaluate us) 1.We develop a self-concept (as we interpret the reactions of others, we develop feelings and ideas about ourselves)

12. Looking Glass Self George Herbert Mead – Agreed with Cooley He added that play is critical to the development of the self. In play, children take on the role of others and learn to understand how someone else feels and thinks. Children also learn what others expect of them, and how to behave in order to meet those expectations.