Deck 6: D: Socialization and Social Interaction

Question 1

Develop an essay that outlines your own social development sociologically and with regard to the major agents of socialization discussed in the text.

Answer 1

Essays will vary,but students are required to provide a comprehensive overview of the major agents of socialization outlined in the chapter (family,peer group,education,and mass media),as well as some discussion of how those agents have influenced their own lives.

Question 2

Name the agents of socialization and provide a brief description of how they work.According to sociologists,which of the stages is the most important and why? Provide an example of how you have been socialized by each one.

Answer 2

Families,Education,Peers,Mass Media
Family is the most important because they are the centre of children's lives.During the important formative period,families provide children with nourishment,love,and protection and guide their first experiences with the social world.In the first years of life,families are largely responsible for children's emerging identities,self-esteem,and personalities.In fact,the first values and attitudes that a child embraces are generally simple reflections of his or her family's values and attitudes.
Examples will vary by student.

Question 3

Why do "feral children" serve a crucial role for the study of social interaction? What does this research contribute with regard to the nature vs.nurture debate? With reference to Mead's preparatory,play,and game stage,why is it that feral children often do not have positive outcomes?

Answer 3

Students should describe Mead's three stages of development and link them to the common symptoms of feral children.There should also be a brief description of how feral children provide sociologists with irrefutable evidence of the importance of socialization,especially in early childhood.

Question 4

Describe the two approaches used to understand how personalities are developed,and state which one you agree with more.Would a sociologist agree with the theory of sociobiology? Provide examples to support your answer.

Question 5

"Boys will be boys and girls will be girls." How would a sociologist analyze this statement in the context of socialization? In your answer,mention at least three agents of socialization as discussed in the text and give examples.

Question 6

Briefly describe the nature versus nurture debate.Provide an argument that behavioural differences,if they do exist,are due to how individuals are socialized.

Question 7

Discuss the four agents of socialization as they pertain to your own life.How have you been affected by each? Which do you think has had the most substantial impact on who you are today?

Question 8

Outline the nature versus nurture debate using gender as an example.

Question 9

How are companies addressing the shortage of workers? Are these programs examples of means tested programs or universal plans? Why do companies that implement these programs also enforce mandatory retirement? Provide examples in your answer.

Question 10

How do feral children reflect the importance of human interaction in early childhood,particularly on the development of the self and self-image? Why has this led contemporary research to suggest that "the nature/nurture debate may in fact be a false dichotomy?" Provide examples to support your answer.