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Questions and Answers
What do most sociologists believe is the primary influence on human behaviour?
What do most sociologists believe is the primary influence on human behaviour?
According to functionalists, how does society maintain social roles?
According to functionalists, how does society maintain social roles?
What term describes the process through which individuals learn socially acceptable behaviours?
What term describes the process through which individuals learn socially acceptable behaviours?
Which sociologist emphasized that socialisation is a one-way process influenced by society?
Which sociologist emphasized that socialisation is a one-way process influenced by society?
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What happens to behaviours that are not a result of socialisation, according to Durkheim?
What happens to behaviours that are not a result of socialisation, according to Durkheim?
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In the context of social roles, what is a potential consequence for persistent offenders, as noted in the discussion?
In the context of social roles, what is a potential consequence for persistent offenders, as noted in the discussion?
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How do different cultures demonstrate the significance of socialisation, according to sociologists?
How do different cultures demonstrate the significance of socialisation, according to sociologists?
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What concept suggests that people are born with certain abilities that influence their behaviour?
What concept suggests that people are born with certain abilities that influence their behaviour?
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What does G.H. Mead argue about self-awareness?
What does G.H. Mead argue about self-awareness?
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What is indicated about feral children in relation to socialization?
What is indicated about feral children in relation to socialization?
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How do Tiger and Fox view human behavior in relation to culture?
How do Tiger and Fox view human behavior in relation to culture?
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Which of the following best describes the significance of primary socialization according to the text?
Which of the following best describes the significance of primary socialization according to the text?
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What behavior did Oxana Malaya exhibit due to her upbringing?
What behavior did Oxana Malaya exhibit due to her upbringing?
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What do proponents of the nature argument believe regarding human behavior?
What do proponents of the nature argument believe regarding human behavior?
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Which concept best aligns with G.H. Mead's idea of the self?
Which concept best aligns with G.H. Mead's idea of the self?
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What was a characteristic of feral children regarding their behavior?
What was a characteristic of feral children regarding their behavior?
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Study Notes
Socialisation Debate: Nature vs. Nurture
- The extent to which human behaviour is influenced by socialisation is debated.
- The role of socialisation in shaping behaviour has been overstated by some.
Main Arguments:
- Some sociologists suggest human behaviour is primarily driven by instincts (genetic determinism).
- Most sociologists believe that socialisation (nurture or cultural determinism) is the primary influence on behaviour.
Nurture Arguments:
- Sociologists firmly support nurture.
- Socialisation is more influential than instinct in shaping human behaviour.
- Evidence for nurture includes learned roles through socialisation, with sanctions motivating behaviour consistent with societal expectations.
- Gender roles are maintained through informal socialisation (e.g., name-calling, exclusion).
- Emile Durkheim saw socialisation as a one-way process where society dictates roles.
- Parsons suggests people internalize societal roles and values, shaping personalities.
- Different cultures demonstrate diverse behaviours, supporting the nurture argument.
- Interactionists (e.g., Mead) argue that self-awareness is learned through interaction, not innate.
Nature Arguments:
- Those who support the nature argument believe behaviour is conditioned by instinct.
- Instinctive behaviours are considered innate (e.g., mothering instinct).
- The environment plays a limited role in the development of these instincts, claiming that cultural influence is minimal.
Evidence of Socialisation's Importance:
- Feral children who are isolated and raised by animals display animalistic behaviours, highlighting the importance of socialisation to develop human traits like language.
- Oxana Malaya, a Ukrainian feral girl raised by dogs, developed behaviour patterns similar to the dogs.
- Tiger and Fox argued that gender roles are biologically pre-programmed through "biogramming".
- Murdock's study of 224 societies suggests societal differences in gender roles and tasks reflect biological differences, but this is debatable.
- Kibbutz experiment in Israel showed gender roles can be significantly influenced by socialisation, even when children are assigned roles different from their biological sex.
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Description
Explore the ongoing debate of nature versus nurture in this quiz, focusing on how much human behavior is influenced by socialization. Examine key arguments from sociologists regarding genetic determinism and cultural determinism, and assess the evidence supporting the role of socialization in shaping behavior.
