Socializing the Individual

Socializing the Individual

Socializing the IndividualPersonality DevelopmentPersonality DevelopmentWhat comes to mind when you hear the word personality?

Personality the sum total of behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, and values that are characteristic of an individual

Our personality determines how we adjust to our environment and how we react in specific situations

No two individuals have the same personality

Personality DevelopmentPeoples personalities continue to develop throughout their lifetime

Personality development is more obvious during childhoodwhy?

Rapid physical, emotional, and intellectual growth

During adulthood, personality traits change at a slower pace

Personality development varies from person to person

Nature versus NurtureFor many years, sociologists have debated what determines personality and social behaviorheredity or environment?

Heredity the transmission of genetic characteristics from parents to children

Social Environment contact with other people

This debate is usually referred to as Nature vs. Nurture

Inherited genetic characteristics vs. environment and social learning

Nature versus NurtureWhat do you think?

Nature Nurture

Nature Versus NurtureThe nature viewpoint states that behavior is instinctual in originInstinct an unchanging, biologically inherited behavior patternThe nurture viewpoint states that a persons behavior and personality are the result of their social environment and learningPavlovs Dogs

Psychologist John B. Watson believed that he could take a dozen healthy babies and train them to become anything he wanted

Factor #1 heredityEveryone has certain characteristics that are present at birth:Body buildHair typeEye colorSkin pigmentationHereditary characteristics also include certain aptitudesAptitude a capacity to learn a particular skill or acquire a particular body of knowledge Example Natural talent for music, art, or athletics

Factor #2 Birth orderOur personalities are influenced by whether we have brothers, sisters, or neitherThe order in which we are born into our families also influence our personalitiesHow might the order in which you were born impact your personality?

Birth orderLater-born Children:

Better social relationships

More affectionate

More friendly

Risk-takersFirstborn Children:

Achievement-oriented

Responsible

Conservative

Defend the status quoFactor #3 parental characteristicsPersonality development in children is also influenced by the characteristics of their parentsThe age of parents can impact their childrens developmentParents in their 20s >>>>>>>>>> Parents in their 40sOther parental characteristics that can influence a childs personality developmentLevel of education / occupationReligious orientationEconomic statusCultural heritage

Factor #4 cultural environmentThe cultural environment can determine basic types of personalities that will be found in a society

Each culture gives rise to a series of personality traits that are typical of members of that societymodel personalities

United States = Competitiveness, Assertiveness, and Individualism

Cultural environmentHow we experience our culture also influences our personalityExperiences differ depending on whether you are male or femaleSubcultures affect personality:Growing up in an Italian familyGrowing up in an Irish familyHaving a family with no heritageDifferent regions of the countryDifferent types of neighborhoods

Isolation in childhoodSeveral instances exist in which children have been raised without the influence of a cultural environmentFeral children Wild or untamed childrenSometimes found living with animalSometimes found isolated in their own homesOther than appearance, they have few human characteristics:No ability to control their bodily functionsNo reasoning abilityNo manners

Examples of childhood isolationAnna and IsabelleAnna was born to an unmarried woman (enraged her father)Forced to live in isolation in the atticShe was not spoken to, held, bathed, or lovedDiscovered by a social worker at the age of 6She could not walk, talk, or feed herselfOver time she learned simple tasksAnna died at the age of 10

Examples of childhood IsolationIsabelles grandfather kept her and her deaf mother confined to a dark roomIsabelle did have the advantage of her mothers companyMom and daughter only communicated through gesturesIsabelle was found at the age of 6Crawled on her hands and kneesMade grunting, animal like soundsAte with her hands

Isabelles storycontinuedIsabelle was originally thought to be incapable of speechBegan speaking after several months of intensive trainingAfter two years, she reached a level of social and mental development consistent with her age groupExperts believed Isabelles constant contact with her mother allowed her to overcome her early social deprivationIsolation in childhoodgenieGenie was discovered in 1970 at the age of 13Confined to a small bedroom from the age of 20 monthsSpent her days tied to a potty-chairShe was beaten if she made noiseWhen Genies father interacted with her, he would behave like an angry dog (barking, growling, baring his teeth)When Genie was found she had the social and psychological skills of a one-year-oldGenie did learn basic social normsNever able to function as a social being

InstitutionalizationSociologists have studied the human development of children living in institutionsInstitutions include hospitals and orphanagesThese children show some of the same characteristics as isolated childrenChildren received food and shelter but little or no contactThese cases show the importance of human interaction for social and psychological developmentThe Social selfAt birthbabies cannot talk, walk, feed themselves, or protect themselvesPeople are transformed into participating members of society through:Interactions with their social environmentInteractions with their cultural environmentSocialization Interactive process through which people learn the skills, values, beliefs, and behavior patterns of a society

The social selfMany theories exist to explain how people become socialized and develop a sense of selfSelf Conscious awareness of possessing a distinct identity that separates your and your environment from other members of societyWe will look at three theories of socialization:John LockeCharles Horton CooleyGeorge Herbert MeadLocke: The tabula RasaEnglish philosopher from the 1600sThought that each newborn was a tabula rasaor clean slateLocke felt we were born without personalitiesWe acquire our personalities from social experiencesBelieved he could shape a newborns personality (Watson)Most sociologists believe socialization is a processThrough socialization, we develop a sense of society

Cooley: The looking-glass selfLooking glass self The interactive process by which we develop an image of ourselves based on how we imagine we appear to othersOther people act as a mirror, reflecting back the image we project through their reactions to our behaviorThe looking glass self is a three-step process:First, we imagine how others see usSecond, we imagine how others are judging usFinally, we use perceptions of how others judge us to develop feelings about ourselves

Cooley: The looking glass selfThe process of identity development begins very early in childhoodNewborn babies have no sense of person or placeMembers of the childs primary group interact with the infantThey provide the child with a mirror that reflects his or her imagethey talk to the child, they reward or punish behaviorThis theory puts a lot of responsibility on parents:Parents who think little of a childs ability = inferiority in the childParents who treat their child as capable and competent = capable and competent children

Mead: role taking Seeing ourselves as others see us is only the beginningMead visualized role taking as a three step process:Imitation, play, and gamesChildren under three lack a sense of selftherefore, they can only imitate the actions of othersAt around three, children begin to play and act out rolesThis is the first time children see the world through someone elses eyes

Role taking continuedBy the time children reach school age, they play organized gamesOrganized games require children to take on rolesThe game stage of role-taking most closely resembles real lifeThrough role-taking, an individual develops a sense of selfI = The unsocialized, spontaneous, self-interested component of personality and self-identityMe = The part of ourselves that is aware of the expectations and attitudes of societyRole taking continuedIn childhood, the I component is stronger than the me componentThrough socialization, me acts together with I This socialization brings a persons actions in line with the expectations of societyMe never dominates IA well-rounded member of society is a person with both aspects of self

Agents of socializationAgents of socialization Specific individuals, groups, and institutions that enable socialization to take placeAgents of socialization:FamilyPeer GroupSchoolMedia

FamilyMost important agent of socializationChildren learn the values, norms, and beliefs of society through their familiesSocialization in a family can be both deliberate and unintendedDeliberate = Importance of telling the truth, How to save moneyUnintended = Important to be politeparents not always politeSocialization process differs from family to family

Peer GroupAs children get older, they relate more and more to peer groups

Peer group A primary group composed of individuals or roughly equal age and similar social characteristics

Extremely influential during pre-teen and teenage years

Parents become worried that the norms and values of the peer group are more important than those of the family or societySchoolSchool occupies large amounts of time and attention

The majority of socialization in school is deliberate

Schools transmit cultural values, patriotism, and responsibility

Unintentional socialization can occur

Mass mediaMass media involves no face-to-face interactionMass media Instruments of communication that reach larger audiences with no personal contact between those sending and receiving the informationMass media includes books, television, movies, and the InternetWhich form of mass media do you feel has the most influence?Television probably has the most influence (98% of homes)

Negative effects of mediaWhat are some negative socialization effects of mass media?Research indicates:By the age of 18, most children have witnessed 200,000 fictional act of violenceThis includes 16,000 murdersCan fictional violence create aggressive individuals?Media can include positive socialization:Introduces viewers to new subjects and placesInforms the viewers

resocializationTotal Institution A setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society for a set period of time and are subject to tight controlExamples of total institutions:PrisonsMilitary Boot CampMonasteriesPsychiatric Hospitals

ResocializationTotal institutions are concerned with resocializing their membersResocialization A break with past experiences and the learning of new values and normsMost total institutions are concerned with changing an individual's personality and behaviorPeople in total institutions are denied freedoms enjoyed by the outside world