Chapter 5
Chapter 5 - Socializing the Individual
Personality to sociologists is - sum total of behaviors, attitudes,
beliefs, and values that are characteristic of an individual
(Personality traits determine how we adjust to our environment and we
react in specific situations)
Personality develops through lifetime
some traits change at different rates
some remain constant
Change more obvious during CHILDHOOD (more likely to be
influenced by others)
Change SLOW for adults and seem to maintain stable personalities
Chapter 5
Debate NATURE vs. NURTURE
(heredity) (environment)
Unlike the behavior of other animals, the behavior of humans is not
heavily influenced by instincts.
Humans become functioning members of society through
socialization.
Socialization is an interactive process through which individuals learn
the basic skills, values, beliefs, and behavior patterns of their society.
Because human behavior is socially determined, people exhibit a wide
range of behaviors and personality traits.
Chapter 5
Nature argument - many believe human behavior is
INSTINCTUAL in origin
Instinct = unchanging, biologically inherited behavior pattern
Nurture - attributes human behavior and personality to
environmental factors and learning
Nurture = belief that person can be trained to be anything
regardless of their abilities or ancestry
Sociobiologists - believe most human social life is determined by
biological factors
Social Scientists - believe behavior results from a blending of heredity
and environmental influences - with environment being strongest
Chapter 5
Principle Factors Influencing Personality
1.Birth Order (1st born have diff perspective than middle or youngest sibling; youngest
more social, creative, friendly, affectionate; 1st is achievement oriented,
cooperative, cautious)
2. Parents Characteristics –
(parent’s age, education, religion, economic, culture, occupation)
3. Cultural Environment –
(for the US general personality types (traits) typical for US citizens
are competiveness, assertiveness, individuality.)
4. Heredity (not soley responsible for the kind of personality you have)
- physical characteristics
- certain aptitudes - capacity to learn a particular skill or knowledge
Chapter 5
Read pp 102-103
1.List four main points about each case study.
Anna, Isabelle, Genie
2. Write one sentence summarizing each case
study.
3. Summarize what sociologists have learned
about development from case studies of
isolated children.
Chapter 5
Isolation in Childhood
Result of severe isolation - childhood few human characteristics
other than appearance
No Ability to:
1. reasoning ability
2. no manners
3. control bodily functions
4. no ability to move like humans
This Evidence proves that our personality comes from our cultural
environment. Therefore to be human a cultural environment
is needed = > socialization.
Chapter 5
Institutionalization
Children raised in orphanages hospitals may show some
characteristics of isolated children
1945 study showed even children given proper care more than 1/3 died
within a 2 yr period
Seemed to have died from lack of cuddling and love (physical)
Those who survived, 25% could not walk by themselves, dress, use a spoon,
or even speak well
Therefore infants and young children who lack a caring environment
generally develop their mental, physical, emotional skills at a much
slower pace.
Chapter 5
1. Does the term Dalai Lama best describe a spiritual
leader or an Eastern religion?
2. If someone gave you some Lapsang Souchong
would you spread it on bread or drink it?
3. Is Lhasa a type of dog or a capital city?
4. In which country do you think YAK butter is an
important part of the people’s diet India, Russia, or
Tibet?
5. The English translation of the word Chomolungma is “Goddess
Mother of the World” What do you think Chomolungma is?
Chapter 5
SECTION 2 - Social Self
Self - conscious awareness of a distinct identity that separates us
from others
Theories of How Self Developed
1. John Locke
TABULA RASA = BLANK SLATE
Each newborn = blank slate; “Each born without personality”
We acquire our personality -> social experiences; we can be molded
into any type of character
Chapter 5
2. Charles Cooley - Looking Glass Self (LGS)
LGS refers to interactive process by which we develop an image of
ourselves based on how we Imagine we appear to others
Other people act as mirrors - > reflecting back the image we
project through their reactions to our behavior
3 STEP PROCESS
1. We imagine how we appear to others
2. Based on their reaction - we determine if they see us as we
see self
3. We use our perception of how others see us to develop feelings
about ourselves
Therefore a child is born with no sense of self or place and how the child’s primary group
(mom ,dad, siblings) interacts with him (mirror) will influence the child’s development of a
sense of self.
Chapter 5
3. George Mead - Role Taking - Believes we not only see
ourselves as others but then pretend to take role of others
Role Taking
Allows us to anticipate what other expect of us and see ourselves
through eyes of others
ex. deliberate
-father teaching child to tell the truth
-father teaching how to spend money and save money
-father teaching not to name call
Unconscious
-father explains to child being polite - situation occurs where father
is impolite to someone in front of child
-mother explains not to name call - unacceptable situation occurs
with one of their children and calls them a name
Chapter 5
According to Mead:
1st internalize the expectations closest to us = PRIMARY
GROUP –>SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
As get older - attitudes of society take on importance - >
GENERALIZED OTHER (guide our behavior)
Role-Taking - (How to learn) - 3 step process
1. Imitation
2. Play
3. Games
SELF is Composed of 2 parts
I = unsocialized, spontaneous, self-interest - each part of personality
ME = part of personality aware of expectations and attitudes of
society - “SOCIALIZED SELF”
Chapter 5
SECTION 3 - Agents of Socialization
There are other agents of socialization.
Specific individuals
groups
institutions
that provide situations in which socialization can occur are called
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION
In US - 4 primary groups that socialize children
1. Family
2. Peer Groups
3. School
4. Mass Media
Chapter 5
SECTION 3 - Agents of Socialization
AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION
In US - 4 primary groups that socialize children
1. Family
2. Peer Groups
3. School
4. Mass Media
ACTIVITY
Get intro 4 groups:
Develop how it’s particular agent of socialization contributes
to the socialization process.
Include specific examples and definitions and important
terms.
Chapter 5
1. Family
-most important
-1st place learn how to behave in socially acceptable ways
-socializing with family is deliberate (intended) and unconscious
(unintended)
(parents often send unintended messages that are opposite of the
intended message)
2. Peer Group
-composed of individuals of roughly equal age and social
characteristics
- to win acceptance of our peer groups we must behave according to
the groups standards
-Socialization focuses on group interests and acquiring the skills
needed to fit into that subculture.
Chapter 5
3. School and Family
-most socialization in school is deliberate
-most is very structured to train students for life in large society
-also tries to transmit - cultural values= good citizenship,
responsibility
There is also a large amount of unintentional socialization (influence of
teacher, peer, groups)
4. Mass Media
-includes newspapers, magazines, TV, books =>many forms of
communication
-TV and Internet probably most influential
-TV for younger age because watch more hours of TV than hours in
school positive/negative
Chapter 5
OTHER AGENTS
Religion = > transmits values
Total institution = setting which people are isolated from rest of
societies for set period of time and subject to control of officials of
different ranks.
ex. prison, boot camps, religious orders, mental hospital)
*Organizations - little league, 4-H club, scouts, Jobs
Total Institutions concerned with RESOCIALIZATION which
means breaking down past experiences and learning new values and
norms
mainly directed toward forcibly changing an individual’s personality
and social behavior
How accomplished: alter individuals - 1. dress, 2. hairstyle, 3. speech,
4. freedom of movement