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Socialization Nature vs.

Nurture

1. Nature and Nurture: What do twin studies tell us about nature/nurture? Also,
discuss the influence of heredity in explaining the process of one’s personality and
intellectual development. Provide examples.

The twin studies tell us that nurture (environment) plays a significant role in the
development of an individual. The study depicts how twins who are the same genetically
(nature) but raised in different social environments (nurture) can result in different behaviors
and habits. For example, a child born in a wealthier family might look down upon those who
are poorer and a child born in a lower class family may be grateful for what they have and
learn to accept their hardship. In terms of the influence of heredity, a famous example can be
portrayed through twins Jack and Oskar. One was raised as a catholic and the other was
raised as Jew. Despite their religious differences, they realized that they shared similar
behaviors when they first met. These included flushing the toilet before using it, wore similar
outfits, and sneezing loudly in elevators. This shows that genetics also plays a factor in how
one acts and goes along with the environmental factor when growing up.

2. What is the self? According to Charles Horton Cooley, explain the “looking glass
self” (discuss the three phases). George Herbert Mead also discusses the stages of
the self: identify differences between I and Me. What is meant by significant
others? How are significant others related to the self? Identify Mead’s three-stage
process of self-development.

The self is who we are and how we are unique due to our social interactions. The
“looking-glass self” is a theory that states that we become who we are based on how we think
people see us as an individual. This process of development has three phases. The first is
that we imagine how others see us. Then, we imagine how others analyze our personality
based on what we think they see in us. Lastly, we define our self because of these
assumptions. To expand on this theory, George Mead presented the stages of self – known as
“I and Me”. The “I” is the part of us that reads, smiles, speaks, and any other action that we
might do. The “Me” is our socialized self and uses our previous experience to plan our
actions and judge the outcome afterwards. Mead identifies the process of self-development
through a three-stage process. The preparatory stage lasts until about the age of three and is
the imitation that children make of people who are around them. The play stage takes place
around the ages of three through five and is the process a child takes on the role of another
and responds from the viewpoint of that assumed role. Lastly, the game stage is when a child
learns that success depends on each individual playing his or her part and that everyone is
involved in interconnected relationships. Mead uses the expression “significant others”
describes how our interactions with people who are the most important to us affects our self-
development. The perceptions of our significant others play a heavy role because we want to
fit in and be accepted by them.
3. Explain the dramaturgical approach. What occurs on front-stage? What happens in
backstage? How can Erving Goffman’s idea of impression management and face-
work be used to understand social behavior?

The dramaturgical approach studies our everyday social interaction as if we were actors on a
stage. Erving Goffman got his inspiration for this approach from William Shakespeare by
drawing our attention to the performances and analyzing the aspects of it. In front-stage, the
actors perform for the audience with the appropriate sets and may involve other cast members to
work as a team. In backstage, the actors prepare by putting on costumes and gathering props to
make their performance more realistic. Goffman’s idea of impression management and face-
work can be used to understand social behavior by explaining how we create a face-saving
behavior to protect ourselves from embarrassment. For example, if we do poorly on an exam, we
may tell our peers that the professor isn’t the best at teaching to save our own image and prevent
others from thinking that we are the ones at fault.

4. Identify the agents of socialization. What is the role of schools in gender role
socialization? How has technology (computer, cell phone, email, & TV) influenced the
socialization process?

The agents of socialization include family, school, peer groups, mass media and technology,
workplace, religion and the state. These play the most powerful roles in determining who we
become. In gender role socialization, schools influence kids through the curriculum that is
taught. An example would be learning about the roles of each individual and who would be the
head of a family. Additionally, teachers might be more challenging to boys and ask them more
questions; thus making girls seem to be less significant and more on the shy side. Technology
plays a significant factor into the socialization process because we are spending more time
interacting digitally. Through the advancements in technology, it has become easier to maintain
close connections with family, friends, and even beyond.
5. What are total institutions? Identify Goffman’s four traits of total institutions. Discuss
how a degradation ceremony is used to mortify one’s sense of self.

Total institutions refers to an institution that regulates all aspects of a person’s life under a
single authority – an example being prison. Usually, it means that a person is cut off from the
rest of society and is its own miniature version of society. Goffman identified four traits of total
institutions: It says that all aspects of life are conducted in the same place and are controlled by a
single authority, activities are conducted in the company of others, the authorities create the rules
and schedule activities without consent of the participants, and that all aspects of life are
designed to fulfill the purpose of the institution. A degradation ceremony is a process in which
people are subjected to humiliation within some total institutions. An example of this is a person
entering prison for the first time and having to strip down to nothing. They completely lose their
dignity and sense of individuality because they have no control it.

6. How does society deal with an elderly population? Discuss differences between
disengagement theory and activity theory? Finally, provide solutions to ageism.

Society deals with an elderly population through discrimination due to their age. They face
inequality when it comes to the workforce because of the idea that they are less inefficient
compared to their younger counterparts. The disengagement theory suggests that the ties between
society and an aging individual are mutually severed. As one ages and approaches death, people
drop out of most of their social roles and take on less active roles to prepare for their demise. The
theory places an emphasis of passing social roles to the next generation to ensure social stability.
On the other hand, the activity theory suggests that elderly people who are more active and social
will have a better quality of life. Because of this, they will have improved health and a decline in
mental deterioration. To fight against ageism, the elderly should engage in more activities –
mentally and physically- to show that they are about the same as everyone else. Additionally,
being more independent and surrounding oneself with younger people will help reduce the
amount of discrimination one might face because of their age.

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