35 Questions
Which term describes the process of being taught the behavioural rules needed to become a member of a particular society?
Socialisation
What role does genetics play in influencing human behavior?
Guiding behavior through instincts based on biological instructions
What does the text suggest about instincts in relation to human behavior?
Instincts are fixed human features and can be part of human nature
What is the weaker expression of the idea that people are born with certain capabilities?
'Nature' gives strong hints about behavioral rules
How does the text describe women's role in caring for children based on genetics?
If women have greater child-caring capabilities, it is genetically sensible for them to take on a caring role
What does the text imply about the interaction between 'nature' and 'environmental experiences'?
'Nature' provides hints about behavioral rules that can be ignored, while environmental experiences put genetic capabilities into practice
The 'Me' aspect that develops through socialization is best described as:
The one that conditions how you choose to express pain
How does Goffman describe social life in relation to self and identity?
As a series of dramatic episodes where people are actors
In the looking-glass self concept by Cooley, other people are likened to:
Mirrors reflecting how others see us
How does Goffman describe the process of creating an impression on others?
By adapting behavior to achieve a desired result
What determines how individuals present themselves in different situations according to Goffman?
External influences and societal norms
Which sociologist developed the concept of the 'social self' that develops through socialization?
George Herbert Mead
'Identity performance' according to Goffman is primarily about:
Achieving a desired result by adjusting behavior
'The 'I' expressed by an individual when putting their hand in fire is characterized by:
How they physically react to the pain
'The importance of interpretation' for identities implies:
'Negotiating' meanings based on historical and cultural contexts
In Goffman's view, how do individuals understand the societal expectations related to gender roles?
By adjusting behavior based on how society defines masculinity and femininity
What was the primary focus of Erving Goffman's ethnographic research?
Studying the social interactions of mental patients in institutions
According to the passage, what is the primary argument of sociobiology?
Biological principles of natural selection and evolution can explain human behavior.
Which sociologist argued that family roles are organized based on the belief that women play an expressive role and men play an instrumental role?
Talcott Parsons
What is the primary focus of evolutionary psychology, according to the passage?
Explaining contemporary psychological and social traits in terms of natural selection principles
Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an example of a successful adaptation explained by evolutionary psychology?
Mental health institutions
According to the passage, what is the primary difference between sociological and biological explanations of social development?
Sociology places more emphasis on socialization, while biology focuses on evolution and natural selection.
Which of the following statements about Talcott Parsons' views is NOT supported by the passage?
He believed that opposing biological instincts in family roles would cause social problems.
According to the passage, what is the primary focus of social psychology in explaining human development?
Studying how environmental factors affect genetic or psychological predispositions.
Which of the following statements about the attachment of babies to their primary caregiver is supported by the passage?
It involves a genetic instinct that can be affected by environmental factors.
What is the main reason for studying feral children?
To understand the role of instincts in human behavior
What did the case of Genie, the feral child, suggest about the importance of socialization?
Lack of early socialization cannot be fully corrected later
What is the significance of cultural differences in human behavior?
It demonstrates the importance of socialization in shaping behavior
What did George Herbert Mead argue about self-awareness?
Self-awareness is a learned concept developed through socialization
According to Mead's theory, what is the 'I' aspect of the Self?
The unsocialized self based on our opinion of ourselves
What does the example of cultural differences in how bananas are peeled suggest?
Cultural norms can shape even seemingly trivial behaviors
What is the main reason why feral children fail to develop normal human behaviors?
They miss out on early socialization by humans during critical developmental periods
What does the text suggest about the role of instincts in human behavior?
Instincts play a minimal role in shaping human behavior
What is the main argument made by the text regarding the nature vs. nurture debate?
Nurture (socialization) is more important than nature (instincts)
What is the significance of the case of Saturday Mthiyane?
It suggests that humans can learn behaviors from animals through imitation
Study Notes
Socialisation and Human Behaviour
- Socialisation is a process that teaches us the rules of behaviour to become a member of a particular society/culture and an able social actor.
- The "nature vs. nurture" debate questions whether human behaviour is influenced by biology or culture.
- Genetics suggests that behaviour may be guided by instincts based on biological instructions that can be seen as part of "human nature".
- Instincts are fixed human features that are present from birth and are not influenced by cultural environment.
The "I" and the "Me"
- George Herbert Mead argued that self-awareness is learned, not instinctive.
- Mead claimed that the social context in which behaviour occurs conditions how people behave.
- The "I" aspect of the self is our opinion of ourselves as a whole, while the "Me" aspect is how we present ourselves to others.
- The "Me" aspect is developed through socialisation and is influenced by how others react to us.
Presentation of Self
- Erving Goffman argued that who we believe ourselves to be (our sense of identity) is constructed socially through how we present ourselves to others.
- Goffman proposed a model of self and identity in which social life is a series of dramatic episodes where people are actors.
- We "perform" to others in order to "manage" the impression they have of us.
- Identity performance is about achieving a desired result, such as creating a favourable impression on someone.
Feral Children
- Feral children are children who have missed out on primary socialisation by humans.
- Examples of feral children, such as Genie, show that human behaviour is not instinctive, but rather learned through socialisation.
- Feral children behave as the animals that raised them, suggesting that they learn by imitation.
Culture and Socialisation
- Different cultures develop different ways of doing things, suggesting that human behaviour is learned through socialisation.
- Cultural differences can be trivial (e.g., peeling bananas in Russia) or fundamental (e.g., women's roles in Victorian Britain).
- If human behaviour was instinctive, cultural differences would be minimal.
Explore the significance of socialisation in shaping human behavior and how it influences the nurture versus nature debate. Understand how biology and culture play a role in determining human actions and behaviors.
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