1. Chapter 4 Section 2 The Social Self

2. Socialization The interactive process through which people learn the basic skills, values, beliefs, and behavior patterns of a society Self: your conscious awareness of possessing a distinct identity that separates you and your environment from other members of society

3. Tabula Rasa Theory of John Locke Insisted each newborn is a Tabula Rasa or “clean slate” Human beings are born without a personality Human beings can be molded into any type of character A child’s personality can be shaped, given any characteristics chosen

4. Looking-Glass Self Theory of Charles Horton Cooley Looking-Glass Self: The interactive process by which we develop an image of ourselves based on how we imagine we appear to others-other people act as a mirror, reflecting back the image we project through their reactions to our behavior People adjust their self-image continually as they reinterpret the way they think others view them. Development is a three step process: 1. we imagine how we appear to others 2. based on their reactions to us, we attempt to determine whether others view us as we view ourselves 3. we use our perceptions of how others judge us to develop feelings about ourselves.

5. Role-Taking Theory of George Herbert Mead Took Cooley’s theory further Seeing ourselves as others see us is only the beginning Eventually, we actually take on or pretend to take on the roles of others (Role-taking) Role taking allows us to anticipate what others expect of us.

6. Role-Taking We internalize the expectations of those closest to us (significant others) Expectations and viewpoints of society (generalized others) Development is a three step process: Under age 3: Imitation Ages 3-6: Play Over age 6: Organized games Sense of self has two parts (the I and the me) “I” is the unsocialized, spontaneous, self-interested component of personality and self-identity “Me” is the part that is aware of the expectations and attitudes of society-the socialized self

7. Impression management Theory of Erving Goffman Dramaturgy: social interaction is like a drama being performed on a stage. People are the audience, judging performances and trying to determine each others true character Most people make an effort to play their roles well and manage the impressions that the audience receives (impression management) We change the self we display to control others impressions

8. Homework: Pg. 98 #1-5