Natalie Hoeller

Sociology 001

September 15, 2017

Socialization: Nature vs Nurture

1. Twin studies reveal that nurture has a large impact on socialization. Babies mimic what they

hear in their environments. For example, a video of twins showed that the children were having

some sort of conversation between each other. Of course, this conversation was in baby

language. This showed that they learned how to socialize by the interactions they were having

with family and friends. Therefore, the environment (nurture) had a bigger impact than their

genes (nature). Heredity also has an impact on ones development. Our genes affect how we

view and react to a situation. Twin studies show that nature also influences ones personality.

For example, twins were raised in separate environments. When the twins meet each in

adulthood, they found that they were quite similar. They found that they liked the same foods

and enjoyed reading. This shows that our genes will affect our personalities, despite the

environments we were raised in.

2. The self is who we are. This is unique and separates us from others. The self is influenced by

our interactions with others. The looking glass self states that how other people perceive us is

who we become. The first phase is that we try to guess how others, friends and family, perceive

us. The second phase is what we think people are evaluating us as, like a specific trait of our

personality. The third phase is that we take other people's perceptions of us and define our self.

Significant others explains the people most important to us when developing ourselves. These

significant others are usually parents and friends. The significant others relate to the self

because they help us develop our personality. We develop ourself in three stages. The first one

is preparatory stage. This is when we imitate the actions of others. This occurs around three

years old and younger. The second stage is the play stage. This is when we pretend to be our
role models. The third stage is the game stage. This is when we are aware of our specific role

within a social group.

3. The dramaturgical approach explains that socializing can be a metaphor of actors performing

on a stage. Front stage is where we perform our act, following a script. Backstage is the prep for

performing such as running lines or getting into costumes. Sometimes we change how we act or

the things we say to satisfy others. When we change ourselves for others around us we are

using impression management. The specific actions we change like dressing differently or using

different vocabulary is an example of face-work.

4. The agents of socializing include family, friends, schools, peers, the mass media, the work

place, religion, and the state. Schools teach us the norms and values of the culture we live in.

We are taught to follow these expectations in order to create a successful society. Schools are

teaching us these expectations similarly to gender roles: the expectations of the behavior of

either a female or male. As we spend more time communicating with others through technology,

our socializing is impacted. We are able to keep close relationships with family and friends all

around the world. We also become more aware of the events occurring around us. Technology

also shapes us to form relationships with people who are like ourselves. The media allows a

community to come together.

5. Total institution is a place like a hospital or prison that has authority over a persons life. The

first trait is that the institution is in one place under the control of a single person. The second

trait is that activities within the institution are performed within groups. The third trait is that there

are rules without the people's input. The fourth trait is that the peoples lives should be based off

of the purpose of the institution. A degradation ceremony can modify ones sense of self
because when a person is humiliated it is easy to lose your individuality. The person is taken

from a unique individual to a public display to satisfy a community.

6. Different societies deal with the elderly population in different ways. Some cultures see the

elderly as wise and sacred, while others see them as difficult and useless. The disengagement

theory states that an elderly person loses his or her role within the society. Elderly people are

expected to quit their jobs because they are unable to succeed in their social role. The activity

theory states that elderly people who keep their roles in society will benefit from it. Keeping into

contact with the social aspects of life will help an elderly person's quality of life. One solution to

ageism is communicating with the elderly person. If we are able to understand the issues

someone is facing while aging or their physical incapabilities, then we can look pass the

stereotypes that come with aging. Another solution is to look at the positives instead of the

negatives. For example, identity what an elderly person can do instead of what they cant do.

The elderly person can then have a role in the society based on what they can accomplish.