Sociological Theories of Human Development

Sociological theories of human development Do not copy• Although, social scientists acknowledge the contributions of

psychoanalytical and psychologically based explanations of human development…

• Sociologists focus on a sociological perspective in understanding how people develop an awareness of self and about our culture.

• From a sociological perspective, we cannot form a self or personal identity without intense social contact with others

Self-Concept • The self represents the sum total of perceptions and feelings

that an individual has as being a unique person.

• When we speak of self we use words such as I, me, my, mine and myself.

• This sense of self/self-concept is not present at birth; it arises in a process of social experience.

• Self-concept is composed of four components:• The physical self (“I am short”)• The active self (“I am good at soccer”)• The social self (“I am nice to others”)• The psychological self (“I believe in world peace”)

Looking at Self-Concept• Explain what “self” the following statements are an example

of: (physical, active, social, psychological)• I have a big nose.• I think genocide is terrible.• I can’t relate to people who don’t love movies.• I think teaching is important.• I am a basketball player.• I have a fiancee.• I think marriage is a valuable socialization agent.

Self-Identity • Self-identity is our perception about what kind of person we

are.

• As we have seen, socially isolated children do not have typical self-identities because they have no experience of humanness.

• According to symbolic interactionist, we do not know who we are until we see ourselves as we believe others see us.

• Our interpretation and evaluation of language, symbols and interactions with others is central to our social construction of our identity.

Social Constructivism• Social Constructivism is a term applied to the theories that

emphasize the socially created nature of social life.

• This perspective is linked to the symbolic interactionist theory.

• Two symbolic interactionist theorists we will have a look at are Cooley and Mead.

Charles Horton Cooley

• Charles Horton Cooley believed that we form our self-images through interaction with other people. • Particularly interested in how

significant others shape us as individuals.

• The looking-glass self refers to a self-image that is based on how we think others see us.

• Our sense of self is not permanent• It is always developing as we interact with others

George Herbert Mead• Mead linked role-taking onto Cooley’s self-concept• Role-taking is the process by which a person mentally assumes a

role of someone in order to understand the world from that person’s point of view

• Mead divided the self into the “I” and “me” in which both are needed to develop the self.

• “I” is subjective and represents the spontaneous and unique traits of a person – develops first

• “Me” is objective and composed of the internal attitudes and demands of other members of society – takes form during the following three stages of development

Mead’s 3 stages of Self development Preparatory Stage (birth to age 3)• Interactions lack meaning• Children largely imitate people• Children are preparing for role taking

Play Stage (age 3 to 5)• Children learn to use language and other symbols, enabling them to pretend to take on roles of people

Game Stage (begins age 5)• Understand own social position and position of others

• According to Mead, socialization is a two-way street between society and the individual

• Society helps determine what kind of person we will become, but we also have the ability to shape certain aspects of our social environment.

• The symbolic interactionist approach emphasizes that socialization is a collective process in which children are active and creative agents, not passive recipients of the socialization process.

• Write 5 self concept statements and decide which component of self-concept they cover (physical, active, social, psychological)

• Explain why it might be a good thing that our sense of self is never permanent.

• Consider the concept of the looking-glass self. How do you think others perceive you? Do you think most people perceive you correctly?

• What are your “I” traits? What are your “me” traits? Which ones are stronger?

• Describe the value of a role-taking scenario that you did while you were a child. For example, pretending that you were a firefighter or veterinarian.

• Write a brief essay that outlines and explains 3 things that you would say you identify with or as. Make sure to determine what you think helped you form that identity. In essence, what makes you who you are?• For example, I identify as politically engaged, a traveller, and a

good person.• I believe that I identify as politically engaged because I am a

member of a political party, and I have voted in every election that I could have since I have been able to vote. I also can see the incredible value in using my vote to declare what I believe in.