College Level Sociology Chapters 5-8

What we bring into the world at birth.

What we learn or gain via our interactions with others in our groups and the world in general.

Founded behaviorism

John B. Watson argued that patterned behavior is not biologically determined, but learned.

A discipline of sociology that assigns a large role to biology (nature) in explaning behavior and the development of personality

One of the first theorist to tackle the question of how we develop our personality and view ourselves.Looking-Glass Self: Each to a looking-glass
Reflects the other doth pass.

1: We consider how we believe other people see us.
2: As we interact with others we interpret how others treat us.
3: Based on our interpretation of others reactions to us, we develop an image of ourselves.

Developed the Role-Taking ProcessHe believed that children learn who they are by taking on the roles of others in play.

A child simply imitates gestures and sounds he/she observes others producing.
ex: little boy seeing his mother cooking, may play with pots and pans to imitate her.

In this stage, the child begins to assume the roles of others.
ex: dressing up in costumes.

Children move from playing the person to playing the role. They also learn that not roles are equal.

Created the Role of the Unconscious.

Process by which we learn to fit into society, and thereby achieve harmony.

Freud's term for the pleasure-seeking part of our subconscious that represents our innate drives. The id is like the devil on your shoulder!ex: sexual drive.

Freudian term for that part of the subconscious that contains all the teachings of society and that insists we follow the societal rules. Superego is the opposite of the Id, its the angel on your shoulder.