What makes you you?

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What makes you you?

• NATURE VS. NURTURE Are you the product of your
  GENETIC INHERITANCE (Nature)
• or your ENVIRONMENT (Nurture)?
• SOCIOBIOLOGISTS Biology (genetics, nature) is
  the basis of most social behavior
• Most sociologists reject the purely
  sociobiological approach to them social factors
  (nurture) are key factors influencing personality
  and social behavior
• Most likely both nature and nurture are
  contributing factors in shaping who you are.

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How does when shape who?

• BIRTH ORDER When you were born affects who you
  are
• FIRST BORN ACHIEVEMENT ORIENTED, COOPERATIVE,
  CAUTIOUS
• LATE BORN MORE SOCIAL, AFFECTIONATE, FRIENDLY,
  CREATIVE

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The Social Self

• Socialization Interactive process by which
  individuals learn the norms, values and behavior
  patterns of society.
• John Locke The Tabula Rosa
• Locke believed that we are born with no
  personality, that all is learned

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The Looking Glass Self

• The belief that we develop an image of ourselves
  based on how we imagine we appear to other people.

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AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION

• FAMILY Most important!
• PEER / SCHOOL Next significant agent in
  socialization beginning at age 5 (school)
• MASS MEDIA Music, Television, Films
• RELIGION
• SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS Girl Scouts, Sports, Chess
  club

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RESOCIALIZATION

• Changing the Norms and Values of your initial
  SOCIALIZATION process and adopting a new set of
  Norms and Values
• example Military Boot Camp
• TOTAL INSTITUTION When individuals are isolated
  from society (by choice or force) and adapt to
  new norms and values
• example Prisons, Monastaries

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A Lack of Socialization leads to Social Isolation

• Human contact is critical to normal human
  development.
• Isolated Children ( Wild or Feral Children) have
  been documented and the developmental damage done
  to them is usually severe.