Sociological Perspective of the Self

These vocabulary flashcards cover the sociological perspectives of the self, including key theorists like Cooley, Mead, and Goffman, and the primary agents of socialization.

Sociology

A social science that studies human societies, their interactions, and the processes that preserve and change them.

Charles Cooley

The sociologist best known for his concept of the looking glass self, which suggests a person's self grows out of society's interpersonal interactions and the perceptions of others.

Human Nature and the Social Order

The $1902$ work by Charles Cooley where the term "looking glass self" was first used.

Step 1 of the Looking Glass Self

You imagine how you appear to the other person.

Step 2 of the Looking Glass Self

You imagine the judgment of the other person.

Step 3 of the Looking Glass Self

You feel some sense of pride, happiness, guilt, or shame.

George Herbert Mead

The theorist who argued that the self is completely social and develops through interacting with others and reflecting on those interactions.

Parts of the Self (Mead)

According to Mead, the self consists of two parts: Self-awareness and Self-image.

Preparatory Stage

The first stage of self-development where language allows individuals to respond to each other through symbols, gestures, words, and sounds.

Play Stage

The stage of self-development where individuals take on different roles and pretend, helping develop self-consciousness through role-playing.

Game Stage

The stage of self-development where individuals understand and adhere to the rules of an activity to be successful.

"I" and "me"

The two central concepts included in George Herbert Mead's theory of the social self.

Erving Goffman

The sociologist who argued that people live their lives like actors performing on a stage and use impression management to present themselves.

Impression management

The use of techniques to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived.

Dramaturgy

A theory of analysis where each social situation is viewed as a new scene and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present.

Agents of Socialization

The social institutions and groups, such as family, school, peers, mass media, and religion, that shape an individual's identity.

Family (as an agent)

The group that introduces children to the expectations of society, with socialization often differing based on race, gender, and class.

School (as an agent)

The environment where teachers and other students serve as a source of expectations that encourage specific ways of thinking and behaving.

Peers (as an agent)

A source of identity where interaction helps children learn social skills, form values, and develop attitudes.

Mass Media Socialization Statistics

The average young person aged $8-19$ spends almost $7$ hours per day immersed in various media forms.

Television

The dominant medium in mass media socialization, though half of all youth use a computer daily.

Religion (as an agent)

An agent of socialization where children often develop the same beliefs as their parents and frequently return to those original faiths later in life.