Even though many aspects of sociology deal with macro-level issues, micro-level interactions are just as important. This chapter discusses the development of self, social interaction, and the social structures present in society. Charles Horton studied the development of self and created the concept of the looking-glass self. This concept states that humans develop a self-image that reflects how others see them. They think about this outside perspective, or how others react to certain behaviors and present themselves accordingly. Does this mean we form our own identity, or do others form it for us? Theories such as Horton’s stress the importance of children surrounding themselves with positive peers. Another micro-level sociologist is …show more content…
One goes through socialization their entire life, but it can be divided into childhood and adult socialization. Childhood socialization begins with primary socialization. Here, children acquire social norms and values from their parents and other caregivers. Parents also provide anticipatory socialization, which teaches children what will be expected of them in life. Examples range from expectations held when a child begins school to when they begin adulthood. Peers also influence a great deal of socialization and often times, peer norms and values can conflict with those taught by parents. Other influences include gender, mass media, and consumer socialization. Adult socialization is slightly less complex. It typically revolves around the work place. Adults need to resocialize to work environments when getting a new job. Other changes that create socialization for adults include changes in societal norms, family, aging, and geographic mobility. All of these aspects affect the self one developed throughout childhood and onto adulthood. Does this mean many aspects of one’s identity are determined by their surroundings? If so, will one ever know if they are truly being themselves or just the person their surroundings has shaped them to …show more content…
These are enduring and regular social arrangements. The smallest form is interpersonal relationships. These can be dyads, two person relationships, or triads, three person groups. An example of a triad is a couple who has a child. On a larger scale, individuals can form social networks, which are composed of two or more individuals, groups, or organizations. Social networks can come in handy when looking for jobs. Then there are groups. These are a small number of individuals who have developed a relationship based on the interactions they have had together. The three types of groups are primary, secondary, and reference groups. Primary groups are very close knit groups like a family. Secondary groups are large impersonal groups and reference groups are groups one uses to evaluate themselves. Each group is important in their own way, but considering the consumption society of the United States, reference groups can have a lot of influence. If one compares themselves to the rich and famous, they may develop different values than those around them. Even comparing oneself to friend’s “front stage” self on social media can cause distorted values and norms. Sociologists focus on relationships like these and how an individual’s development of self shapes their role in
Socialization is a lifelong process of acquiring one’s personal identity; when we interact within the four agents of socialization—family, school, media, and peer groups—we internalize norms, values, behavior, and social skills. Since our values, norms, and beliefs about society are first learned with family, family is the most important and influential agent of socialization.
Miller, P. J. & Mangelsdorf, S. C. (2005). Developing selves are meaning-making selves: Recouping the social in self-development. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 109, 51-59.
Families mold, intentionally or not, their children into little reflections of themselves. School, thru peer pressure, thru the various academic and social clubs, and thru the imaginary audience, serves to enhance the socialization process begun at home.
The education system and the peer group within the school system are important socialisation agents in an individual’s life. Children from an early age absorb the values, attitudes and beliefs of the society in which they participate (Ashman & Elkins, 2009).
Nowadays socialization in children is a very strong focus on the effects of peer pressure on the children. It could be controversial that family, school and etc. Socialization could be defined to continue through which is individual identity, and learns the values, behavior as well as social skills appropriate to his or her social position. “Socialization is the process whereby an innocent child becomes a self-aware, knowledgeable person, skilled in the ways of the culture into which he or she was born” (Giddens, Duneler and Appelbaum, 2014). Children are beginning to use the concepts like I, Me, and you between 5-7 years old, they will understand that others have distinct identities, and need their
Many philosophers and psychologist from Jean Piaget to William James have theorized what makes a person who they are, their identity. Jean Piaget believed that the identity is formed in the sensorimotor stage and the preoperational stage. This means that a child is forming his identity as late to the age of seven (Schellenberg, 29) However, identity is strongly impacted by society such as school, church, government,and other institutions. Through our interactions with different situations our personality develops (Schellenberg 34). "In most situations there is a more diversified opportunity for the development of social identities, reflecting what the individual wants to put forth to define the self as well as what others want to accept,"(Schellenberg 35). Therefore, humans, much like animals, adapt to different situations based on who they are with. Individuals are always changi...
The sociological concept of self is our perception of who we are in relation to others and ourselves. The self is largely a social construct that is formed through our interactions with others and the world around us. The self is an abstraction that forms over time. For example, young children are known to have problems with role taking, which is the ability to use other’s perspectives to form one’s behavior. This shows that the self is a process and not a construct that all people
General socialization begins in childhood with our parents and grandparents or caretakers. Simple verbal and nonverbal interactions taking place between those closest to us and our world around us creates ideas and beliefs and coach us in how we should react to our environment. General socialization can be seen when children are punished for being inappropriate or impolite, or when their behaviors are reinforced by authority figures around them. Growing up in a conservative home, one may ...
“The position into which we are born as an individual – our family, neighbourhood, social contacts, social class, gender, ethnicity, and the beliefs and values in which we are educated – will put a sizable imprint on the self we become.” (Burkitt, I, 2008, p. 3)
The term socialization refers to the “lifelong social experience by which individuals develop their human potential and learn culture.” [Macionis et al. p 55] The concept of socialization is that our actions are driven/learned by culture. Socialization is also the foundation of personality, which we build by internalizing our surroundings. Through the lifelong process of socialization, society transmits culture from one generation to the next.
For example, when I was a newborn until I was the age of seven I lived with my parents. The few times I attended class in the kindergarten and the first grade, my peers would affect the way I act. I could be one person outside of the educational environment and at home another whole attitude. The socialization with different types of people also impacts one's personal being. I would want to be the way other kids were so that I would fit in even at this young age. As I acted this way at school, this behavior would carry its way home. If I was to hear a new word that people were using and I began to use that particular word as a part of my personal everyday vocabulary from catching on to what the other kids were doing.
Sociology describes many types of social groups, and each group is viewed differently. The first group is a primary group member that has a personal relationship with each other or face-to-face interaction. Secondary groups are the complete opposite of primary groups because they involve little to no knowledge of each other. Secondary groups also tend to have an impersonal relationship. In-group are what society use to help identify themselves. The out-groups are more of a minority in society, which are people who are different and don’t have the same interests as the in-groups. All of the social groups have a distinction between one another.
The socialization that we receive in childhood has a lasting effect on our ability to interact with others in society.Socialization is a lifelong process during which we learn about social expectations and how to interact with other people.Nearly all of the behavior such as respect, paying attention to details, obedient, being caring, etc that we consider being 'human nature' is actually learned as
The way a person behaves is a reflection of how and where they were raised. From birth, we are taught to behave a certain way and have certain family expectations that we must meet that will then play a key role in shaping our identity. But family is not the only factor that influences identity, friends and environment help shape our identity too. Family, friends and environment help shape our identity greatly from the beginning of life up till adulthood.
How does one create the “self”? How do we form as individuals? Whether a person is male or female, white or black, rich or poor, tall or short, pretty or ugly, fat or skinny, the most important factor is the development of the “self”. The self refers to the unique set of traits, behaviors, and attitudes that distinguishes one person from another (Newman 283). To distinguish between oneself from others, one must be able to recognize their unique traits and characteristics. One must be able to differentiate between one’s own physical appearance and another’s. There are many components such as gender, race, ethnicity, and social class, which shape and influence our values, beliefs, and impression of life. Understanding the difference between sex and gender allows one to grow into their own masculinity and femininity. Recognizing the history of one’s past in regard to their ethnic backgrounds and struggle will shape the development on one’s self. Having the luxury of money and power will affect the self and the way that one appreciates the value of the dollar or lack thereof. One of the most important factors may be one’s physical features which will eventually influence one’s self-confidence and affect the self as a whole. Once an individual has acknowledged the traits of their “self”, they’re in control of either maintaining their self, or changing their self to satisfy their standards.