Social Science: Communication & Ethics

Communication

• Human communication includes key terms like language development in children, its acquisition and development.
• Body language is a form of communication.
• Language and culture are connected through the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis.
• Mass media impacts societal understanding and transmits messages.

Socialization

• Agents of socialization influence individuals.
• Primary and secondary socialization are two types.
• Hidden figures have a role in socialization.

Rites of Passage

• Rites of passage follow a three-stage process.
• They employ symbolism and rituals.
• Marriage is a significant rite of passage, including triangular theory of love, free-choice marriage, and understanding cultural differences.

Ethics of Social Science Research

• Ethical guidelines in research are vital.
• Controversial experiments, such as those by Milgram, Zimbardo, and Asch, have ethical implications, leading to awareness of the need for ethical codes and their implementation in scientific research.
• Unethical experiments involving human subjects must be avoided.

Nature vs. Nurture

• A case study explores genetics and the environment.
• The nature vs. nurture debate is addressed through gender identity discussion, including the interplay of genetics and environment in shaping gender identity.
• David Reimer's case highlights the role of nature and nurture in gender identity.

Gender

• Examining sex vs. gender.
• Gender roles have an impact on society.
• A discussion of how society shapes our understanding of gender roles, using the example of "Tough Guise."
• Understanding the impact of media and social structures on masculinity is discussed in the context of the concept "Tough Guise."
• Analysis of violence, media, and masculinity are explored.
• Artifacts help understand how society shapes our understanding of gender roles.

Major Theorists & Theories

• Piaget identified four major stages of cognitive development.
• Erikson outlined eight stages of psychosocial development.
• Kohlberg's theory details six stages of moral development.
• Bingham and Stryker, Cooley, Mead, and Gilligan's theories offer alternative perspectives to Erikson, focusing on different aspects of development.

Birth Order

• Characteristics related to birth order are studied.
• Test formats include multiple-choice, short answer, and long answers.