What makes you you?What makes you you?•NATURE VS. NURTURENATURE VS. NURTURE: Are you the product : Are you the product

of your GENETIC INHERITANCE (Nature)of your GENETIC INHERITANCE (Nature)or your ENVIRONMENT (Nurture)?or your ENVIRONMENT (Nurture)?

•SOCIOBIOLOGISTSSOCIOBIOLOGISTS: Biology (genetics, : Biology (genetics, nature) is the basis of most social behaviornature) is the basis of most social behavior

•Most Most sociologists sociologists reject the purely socio-biological reject the purely socio-biological approach; to them social factors (nurture) are key approach; to them social factors (nurture) are key factors influencing personality and social behaviorfactors influencing personality and social behavior

• John Locke’s theory: John Locke’s theory:

Tabula Rosa: Locke Tabula Rosa: Locke

believed that we are born believed that we are born

with no personality, that with no personality, that

all is learned (super nurture)all is learned (super nurture)

•WHO IS RIGHT?????????WHO IS RIGHT?????????• Most likely both nature and nurture Most likely both nature and nurture

are contributing factors in shaping are contributing factors in shaping who you are.who you are.

Self Test•What personality traits of your parents

do you think you share?

•Do you believe those traits can be traced to nature or nurture?

•Which factor is more powerful: nature or nurture?

•Why would a sociobiologist disagree with John Locke?

•How would you predict the oldest child in a family would be different from the youngest?

The Social SelfThe Social Self

•Socialization: Interactive Socialization: Interactive process by which process by which

individuals learn the individuals learn the norms, values and norms, values and

behavior patterns of behavior patterns of society.society.

A Lack of Socialization leads A Lack of Socialization leads to Social Isolationto Social Isolation

•Human contact is critical to Human contact is critical to normal human development.normal human development.

• Isolated Children ( Wild or Feral Isolated Children ( Wild or Feral Children) have been documented Children) have been documented and the developmental damage and the developmental damage done to them is usually severe.done to them is usually severe.

How does when shape How does when shape who?who?• BIRTH ORDER: When you were born affects BIRTH ORDER: When you were born affects

who you arewho you are

• FIRST BORN: ACHIEVEMENT ORIENTED, FIRST BORN: ACHIEVEMENT ORIENTED, COOPERATIVE, CAUTIOUSCOOPERATIVE, CAUTIOUS

• LATER BORN: MORE SOCIAL, AFFECTIONATE, LATER BORN: MORE SOCIAL, AFFECTIONATE, FRIENDLY, CREATIVEFRIENDLY, CREATIVE

The Looking Glass SelfThe Looking Glass Self

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

•Closely related to the Self-Fulfilling Closely related to the Self-Fulfilling ProphecyProphecy

AGENTS OF AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATIONSOCIALIZATION•FAMILY: Most important!FAMILY: Most important!

•PEER / SCHOOL: Next significant PEER / SCHOOL: Next significant agent in socialization beginning agent in socialization beginning at age 5 (school)at age 5 (school)

•MASS MEDIA: Music, Television, MASS MEDIA: Music, Television, FilmsFilms

•RELIGIONRELIGION

•SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS: Girl SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS: Girl Scouts, Sports, Chess clubScouts, Sports, Chess club

RESOCIALIZATIONRESOCIALIZATION

• Changing the Norms and Values of your Changing the Norms and Values of your initial SOCIALIZATION process and adopting initial SOCIALIZATION process and adopting a new set of Norms and Valuesa new set of Norms and Values

example: Military Boot Campexample: Military Boot Camp

• TOTAL INSTITUTION: When individuals are TOTAL INSTITUTION: When individuals are isolated from society (by choice or force) isolated from society (by choice or force) and adapt to new norms and valuesand adapt to new norms and values example: Prisons, Monastariesexample: Prisons, Monastaries

Rites of Passage

•The transition from one developmental period to another is often recognized and celebrated by the social group.

•Puberty is recognized in most cultures as the entrance into the world of adulthood, and usually is accompanied by a “rite of passage”

•Rites of Passage are usually social events and vary based on cultural norms and gender.

Gender Roles and Socialization

• "Sex" refers to the biological and physiological characteristics that define men and women.

• "Gender" refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.

• Each society creates its own rules about appropriate Gender Roles

• Many gender roles that emerge in our society are based on women as mothers and fathers at providers

• Societies frequently limit acceptable roles for either

sex based on their perceived gender roles

Teen SuicideThe stress of adolescence triggers

teens to commit suicide in numbers disproportionate to the general

population

Sociology and Suicide•Although suicide is generally the act

of individuals

•strong social forces influence the decision to commit suicide.

Teen SuicideExtreme levels of

- Group identification or

- Isolation both predictors of greater incidence of

teen suicide.1. Very high levels of integration = the

group is more important than the individual LESS COMMON IN OUR CULTURE

Teen Suicide•2. Low levels of social interaction =

predictor of suicide (low interaction is the BY FAR THE stronger factor)

Teen Suicide

•CLUSTER EFFECT: Adolescent suicide can trigger other suicides within the adolescent community.

•Characteristics of Adolescents:– Biological growth and development– Undefined status– Increased decision making– Increased Pressure– The Search for Self

The Elderly

Baby Boom: 1946 – 1964The Baby Boomers are now

starting to retirePeople used to live about 11 years after retirement. Now that can be expected to live

20 years or more after retiring

Implications•Seniors do not save enough money for a long

retirement

•Poor health and medical expenses increase as we age

•Pension and Social Security funds will go broke to paying for these long-lived retirees.

•Seniors re-enter the job market and compete against the young and uneducated for entry level jobs

•Elder abuse: Number of elderly will strain care facilities and the quality of these facilities will drop