Transcript Chapter 5 SOCIALIZING THE INDIVIDUAL

Chapter 5
SOCIALIZING THE
INDIVIDUAL
Section 1: Personality
Development
What is personality?
Social skills?
Social appeal?
Popularity? Or lack thereof?
To Social Scientists personality is “the
sum total of behaviors, attitudes,
beliefs and values that are
characteristic of an individual.”
No two personalities are exactly alike…
NATURE vs NURTURE debate…
THE CASE FOR “NATURE”…Some
Sociologists believe it is heredity that determines
personality & social behavior (heredity – the
transmission of genetic characteristics from
parents to children.”)
The “nature” stand says that much of human
behavior is instinctual (an unchanging, biological
inherited trait) and this instinct drives personality
development.
“Sociobiology” theorists emphasized the nature
viewpoint, arguing that most human social life is
determined by biological factors.
More NATURE vs NURTURE…
The case for “NURTURE”… this theory states
that a person’s behavior & personality are the
result of his or her social environment &
learning.
Scientist Ivan Pavlov found that certain
behaviors thought to be instinctive could actually
be taught.
Most sociologists reject the nature AND nurture
theories as singular explanations & instead
believe that personality results from blending
hereditary & **environmental influences .
Factors Social scientists see as key
to personality development…
HEREDITY
BIRTH ORDER
PARENTS
CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT
Heredity: certain characteristics are
present at birth & they include certain
aptitudes (capacity to learn a skill).
Factors that determine personality
Heredity: Example: a musically talented
child born to 2 musician parents (the child
has the aptitude innately; the parents &
home environment help to develop it).
Aptitude (capacity to learn) a particular skill
is also believed to be hereditary (ex:
athleticism; talent for music &/or art)
http://www.3smartcubes.com/pages/tests/aptcomplete/about_aptitude.asp
http://www.iqtestforfree.net/iq-scale.html
BIRTH ORDER:
whether we have siblings or not impacts
personality development. Only children, first borns, middle
children, last borns (the “babies”) and later borns all share
certain personality characteristics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zw8_SQLZ-A
Factors that determine
personality…
PARENTAL CHARACTERISTICS: parental
personalities influence the development of their
children’s personalities. The age of parents,
their education level, religious beliefs, cultural
heritage, economic status, & occupation – all
influence the types of personalities their children
will develop.
What parental characteristics have shaped
your personality??
Cultural Environment…
Different cultures tend to give rise to
specific personality traits. Each culture
has a “model personality” – for example
most Americans are competitive,
assertive, and a strong sense of
individualism. (In Japan, individualism is
discouraged…) Cultural attitudes
regarding gender also influence
personality development.
Some very different ideas &
influences …
IK children of Uganda…thrown out of homes at
age 3? Parents don’t help kids & kids don’t help
aging parents? Survival of the fittest!
Extreme negative effect of isolation in childhood
– feral children (wild/untamed children)
Anna & Isabelle; Genie – some times the effects
of prolonged isolation cannot be reversed
(video)
Institutionalization children often share
characteristics of isolated children (failure to
thrive, very slow mental, physical & emotional
skill development)
How about your own personality?
Create your own personality development
profile…use this T-chart set up, give it
some thought and complete the chart…
NATURE
NURTURE
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Heredity
parents/cultural inf.