Culture and Socialization

Culture and Socialization

            Culture refers to the knowledge and characteristics of a specific group of individuals that encompasses religion, language, social habits, arts and music amongst others. Moreover, culture has been defined as the shared behavioral patterns and interactions, understanding and the cognitive constructs learned through socialization (Greenfield, 2016). Thus, culture may be perceived as the growth of the identity of a given group that is mainly fostered by distinctive social patterns of a group. Consequently, socialization refers to the adaptation of the behaviors considered to be norms of a given society or culture.

Theory

Cooley’s looking-glass self refers to the social psychological idea that maintains that asserts that an individual’s self is derived from the perception of others and the society’s interpersonal interactions. This mainly implies that individuals shape themselves on the basis of how they are perceived by others, and this leads to the individuals reinforcing the perspectives that others on themselves.

In his theory of the formation of self, Mead hypothesized that the self consists of two key parts, namely; self-image and self-awareness. In this regard, Mead’s theory of the self tends to be social given that he does not permit any room for all types of the biological developments that can be linked to personality and the self (Greenfield, 2016). Mead’s, therefore, dissents the perception of the self as being biological but rather perceives it as social. One’s self and his/her notion with regards to whom he/she is, what he/she likes and his or her personality is mainly constructed through the various interactions, as well as by the reflections on such interactions. The development of the self occurs as one ages and grows and is not intrinsically biological.

The Three Theories in Sociology and How They Connect to the Development of Culture or Socialization

The three key theories in sociology tend to connect to the development of culture and socialization in different ways. For instance, the theory of functionalism tends to perceive the society as an intricate system with parts that are working jointly to ensure stability and solidarity. The theory, therefore, perceives the society as a living organism and the various aspects of the society as organ capable of working jointly to ensure smooth functioning of the whole (Chen, Fu & Zhao, 2015). The functionalism approach also perceives the society through the macro orientation level that focuses on the various social structures shaping the society. The theory of functionalism tackles the society with regards to the functions related to the various constituent elements that include traditions, norms, institutions and customs.

The conflict perspective, on the other hand, implies the diverse inequalities existing in every society. The theory is mainly interested in the different aspects regarding the social position master status, which is the main identification attribute of any individual perceived with regards to ethnicity, gender, race, sex, disability and ability, socio-economic status and age amongst others. The conflict paradigm, therefore, maintains that each society faces the issue of inequality on the basis of the social divergences between the dominant groups and the minority groups in the society (Greenfield, 2016). By evaluating the society’s elements using the conflict theory, one should take into account the status, power and wealth structures, as well as the manner in which the structures sustain the social, coercive, political and economic powers of a group at another group’s expense.

Symbolic interactionism theory mainly deals with the assessment of the communication, adjustment and interpretation patterns among individuals with regards to the implications of the symbols employed (Chen, Fu & Zhao, 2015). The theory asserts that both the verbal and nonverbal responses delivered by an individual are mainly developed in anticipation of the reactions of the initial speaker. Such observed emphasis with regards to the various symbols and the negotiated implications, as well as the society’s construction as an symbolic interactionism element concentrates attention on the individual roles within the society.

People:

How People Learn About Their Culture

Individuals tend to learn about their cultures through observation of other member5s of the society and participation in various activities in the society.

Ethnocentrism and Cultural Relativism

Ethnocentrism entails the judgment of other groups based on the point of view an individual’s cultural perspective. Cultural relativism refers to the observation that every belief is equally valid even as truth remains relative depending on the environment, situation and the person. Based on the definitions, ethnocentrism tends to proffer a negative view of other cultures and this might lead to the misunderstanding of such cultures (Oyserman, D. (2015). Consequently, cultural relativism adopts a perspective that encourages a positive view of other cultures leading to their comprehension by an individual. Cultural relativism often leads to development of the society through encouraging the approval of different perspectives while ethnocentrism discourages the adoption of divergent view from one’s culture or society leading to the maintenance of the status quo.

How People Develop the Sense of Self and How Genetic Components and Social Interactions Impact Development of People

The development of the sense of self commences during childhood and is influenced by a number of aspects and determinants. Some of the ways through which one develops the sense of self include through media, teachers, family and peers. The influences contribute to the development of the sense of self as they affect the manner in which one views himself or herself.

Consequently, the interactions between genetic components and the social interactions tend to shape who one is and who will become (Chen, Fu & Zhao, 2015).  Even as the genetic instructions inherited by an individual sets out the development roadmap, the social interactions may impact the manner in which the directions are expressed and shaped, as well as how an event is silenced. The interactions between the genetic components of an individual and the social interactions are continuous and, therefore, imply lifelong development of an individual.

How Culture Affects Human Interaction and How Do People Change Culture

Culture impacts human interaction in different ways including how one behaves during interactions. Thus, members of different cultures portray distinct behaviors during interaction, and a certain behavior considered appropriate in one culture might be considered inappropriate in another. Culture dictates how individuals behave and what they say during interactions. People tend to change culture through the adoption of the practices of other members of a different culture.

Subcultures and Countercultures in an Ideal Society

The subcultures that might appear in an ideal society include hippies, bikers, hip hop fans, goths and heavy metal fans. The countercultures in the society include the feminist groups, the green movement and the polygamists.

References

Chen, X., Fu, R., & Zhao, S. (2015). Culture and socialization. Handbook of socialization:            Theory and research, 451-471.

Greenfield, P. M. (2016). Social change, cultural evolution, and human development. Current       Opinion in Psychology, 8, 84-92.

Oyserman, D. (2015). Culture as situated cognition. Emerging trends in the social and       behavioral Sciences: an interdisciplinary, searchable, and linkable resource, 1-20.