The Individual in Society: Socialization

The lifelong social experience by which individuals develop their

human potential and learn culture

What 4 main factors affect the development of personality?

2

Heredity—physical traits, aptitudes, inherited characteristics, biological drives, limits

Parents—parental characteristics, such as age, education, religion, and economic status

Birth order—personalities are shaped by siblings and the order in which we are born

Cultural environment—determines the basic personality types found in a society

Sociology -Ms. Blackhurst 3

Sociology -Ms. Blackhurst 4

Factors Factors that Shape that Shape Individual Individual

Personality Personality DevelopmentDevelopment

Heredity: inherited

characteristics, biological

drives, limits

Parents:Parents: parental

characteristics

Birth order: Number of

siblings and order of birth

Cultural environment:

basic personality types found in

a society

5

Which is more important in forming who you are?

Genetics or Environment?

6

Personality Development: Nature v. Nurture

Personality, or a person’s fairly consistent patterns of acting, thinking and feeling, is shaped by both biology (nature) and social experience (nurture)

Nature Instincts – inherited behavior patterns (ex. the maternal

instinct) Examples of instincts?

7

Personality Development: Nature v. Nurture

Personality, or a person’s fairly consistent patterns of acting, thinking and feeling, is shaped by both biology (nature) and social experience (nurture)

Nature Instincts – inherited behavior patterns Examples of instincts?

Nurture To raise, bring up, train or educate American psychologist John B. Watson believed that all

behavior could be learned (nurture) – ex. Little Albert experiments

8

John B. Watson

“Give me a dozen healthy infants, well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and I'll guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select – doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and, yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors.

“I am going beyond my facts and I admit it, but so have…(proof that) they have been doing it for many thousands of years.” (1930)

9

Personality Development: Nature v. NurturePersonality, or a person’s fairly consistent patterns

of acting, thinking and feeling, is shaped by both biology (nature) and social experience (nurture) Nature

Instincts – inherited behavior patterns (ex. the maternal instinct)

NurtureTo raise, bring up, train or educateAmerican psychologist John B. Watson believed that all

behavior could be learned (nurture) – Ex. Little Albert experiments

Twin studies can be very important in understanding the role of genes and environment in forming an individual

10

A twin study is a kind of genetic study done to determine heritability.

The premise is that since identical twins have identical genes, differences between them are solely due to environmental factors.

By examining the degree to which twins (especially twins raised apart) are differentiated, a study may determine the extent to which a particular trait is influenced by genes or the environment

11

Separated at birthBefore the 1960s, twins offered for adoption were often separated at birth, and brought up by different families. Scientists interested in human behavior are Scientists interested in human behavior are studying these twinsstudying these twins.. If genes are more important in behavior, then separated

twins should have similar personalities, despite their different families. But if environment is more important, then each twin should be more like their

adoptive family. In fact, it is neither genes nor environment alone that shape our personalities, but the complex interactions between them.

12

13

Twins separated at birth – a first person account: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gwnzW4jOMI

Which is stronger - Nature or Nurture?

Elyse Schein and Paula Bernstein at age 7.

14

Trait Nature Nurture

1. Brown eyes

2. Enjoys bungee jumping

3. 6’ tall

4. Red hair

5. IQ of 150

6. Weighs 500 pounds

7. Depressed

8. Alcoholic

9. Has cancer

Take out a piece of paper…

• Write down your birth order on the left– First born– Middle born– Last born child– Only Child

• On the right, write down your current GPA.

15

Fold the paper and pass it up.

16

Nature: Examples of Factors Influencing Personality Development - Birth OrderResearch indicates that birth order does shape

children’s personalitiesOnly children tend to endure pressure to

achieve and excel; they tend to be overactive and socially involved; many are leaders; often worry more

Oldest children tend to share similar traits of only children; likely to be cooperative, cautious, and achievement oriented

Later children tend to be better in social relationships and to be more affectionate, friendly, and creative; often are more sensitive and have a good sense of humor

Can be altered due to variables…

Personality Development cont’d…Research shows that a healthy

cultural environment is essential for a child’s full development.

Isolation can have severe consequences such as developmental disabilities (mental, physical, social, and psychological), malnutrition, and death.

Sociology -Ms. Blackhurst 17

18

Nurture: Examples of Factors Influencing Personality Development - Other Influences?Parents

Child’s first attachment is to motherLater, both parents serve as role models

and shape perception of sex roles and family membership

CultureA society’s cultural environment may

determine which personality traits are emphasized

For example, U.S. culture emphasizes competitiveness and friendliness

19

Understanding how we become who we are: Key ContributorsMuch research forms the basis for our

understanding of human developmentSocial Psychological Theories: Processes of

socializationSigmund Freud (Personality)Erik Erikson (Stages of Psychosocial Development)Jean Piaget (Cognitive Development)Lawrence Kohlberg (Moral Development)

Sociological Theories: Forming our self conceptCharles Horton Cooley (Looking-Glass Self)George Herbert Mead (Social Behavior)

20

So, how we are socialized, “matters”.

What factors, or “agents”, in our society can affect how children are socialized?

Take a minute to work on this:Come up with a list of at least 7

factors, or agents, that affect how children are socialized.

21

Prime Time TV

Does this affect development?

22

Daily Cartoons ca. late 1980s – early 1990s

Did this affect your development?

How about this…?

23

24

Discussion point:

Can one who has never been socialized, be…socialized (nurtured)?

25

A Socialization Recap

To review, socialization is the process by which we learn to become members of society

Humans continue the socialization process throughout all stages of lifeChildhood (@0-12)Adolescence (@12-19)Early and Middle Adulthood (@19-55)Old Age (@56-71)Death and Dying (@ 71 – end)

26

A Case for “Nurture” - What ab0ut social isolation?How important is human interaction in

development?Social experience helps to develop

personality and other skills key to human interaction.

It is possible to recover from abuse and isolation, but the younger it begins and the older it ends decreases this likelihood. Ex. May prevent acquisition of language skillsExamples: Victor, Genie, Anna, Isabelle

27

28

“Because these children have not had experiences which help their brain organize systems to make sense of the world (language, interpersonal

relationships, etc.) – the world never makes sense.”

From the BBC Series MindshockEpisode: Feral Children

29

What does “resocialization” mean?Where might resocialization take

place?

When might resocialization be necessary?

30

Resocialization: Total Institutions

A total institution refers to a setting in which people are isolated from the rest of society and manipulated by an administrative staff

All spheres of daily life are observed by staff

Environment is highly standardized (food, uniforms, activities)

Formal rules and daily schedules dictate activities

Resocialization: Total Institutions

Involves 2+ million Americans, who are confined against their will in prison or mental hospitals

The goal of a total institution is resocialization, or radically changing an inmates personality by carefully controlling the environment (Breakdown and Build up)

Break down the inmate’s existing identity (humiliation, degradation, personal loss)

Build up a new self (rewards and punishments)

Through this process, a person can become institutionalized (without the capacity for independent living)

Sociology -Ms. Blackhurst 31

32

Is socialization more important during some stages of life than others?

Discussion points:

Again, is socialization a lifelong process?