Socialization, Self-Development, and Identity

Vocabulary flashcards covering socialization, self-development theories, motivation, worldview beliefs, social identity, stigma, and gender development.

Socialization

The lifelong process through which people learn the values, norms, behaviors, and social skills necessary to function in society.

Primary Agents of Socialization

Socializing agents that are most influential early in life, specifically family and caregivers.

Secondary Agents of Socialization

Socializing agents that become more influential as individuals age, including schools, peers, media, religion, and workplaces.

Erikson's Stage Theory of Psychosocial Development

A developmental theory proposing that people progress through stages, each involving a psychosocial crisis that must be resolved for healthy development.

Piaget's Focus on Social Interactions

The perspective that children actively construct knowledge through interaction with their environment and other people.

Looking Glass Self

Charles Cooley's concept that self-concept develops through imagining how others see us, imagining their judgment, and developing feelings about ourselves based on those judgments.

Preparatory Stage

The first stage of Mead's self-development in which children imitate others.

Play Stage

The second stage of Mead's self-development in which children take on the role of significant others.

Game Stage

The third stage of Mead's self-development in which children learn social rules and understand multiple roles simultaneously.

Generalized Other

The broad set of societal expectations and norms that individuals learn and internalize.

"I" (Mead)

The spontaneous, creative, and impulsive aspect of the self.

"Me" (Mead)

The socialized aspect of the self that follows society's rules and expectations.

Michelangelo Phenomenon

A relational process where partners help shape each other into their ideal selves by supporting personal goals and growth.

Partner Affirmation

The act of seeing and supporting a partner's ideal self.

Behavioral Confirmation

Behaving toward someone in ways that encourage them to act consistently with your expectations.

Inclusion of Other in the Self (IOS) Scale

A measure of relationship closeness using overlapping circles that represent how much the self and another person overlap.

Self-Determination Theory (SDT)

A theory of motivation proposing that humans are naturally driven to grow and thrive when three basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) are met.

Autonomy (SDT)

The psychological need characterized by feeling choice and control over one's actions.

Competence (SDT)

The psychological need characterized by feeling capable and effective.

Relatedness (SDT)

The psychological need characterized by feeling connected to others.

Autonomous Motivation

Motivation where behavior is self-chosen and personally meaningful, leading to greater persistence, satisfaction, and performance.

Controlled Motivation

Motivation driven by rewards, pressure, guilt, or obligations, resulting in less satisfaction and weaker long-term motivation.

Organismic Integration Theory

A sub-theory of Self-Determination Theory explaining how external motivations can become internalized and more self-directed over time.

Amotivation

The complete lack of motivation or intention to act.

Extrinsic Motivation

Motivation driven by external rewards or consequences.

Intrinsic Motivation

Motivation driven by enjoyment, interest, or satisfaction derived directly from the activity itself.

Worldview

A framework of beliefs and assumptions about the world and how it works.

Existential Beliefs

Beliefs about reality and human existence addressing fundamental questions such as why we are here and what is true.

Evaluative Beliefs

Beliefs regarding what is good, bad, right, or wrong.

Prescriptive Beliefs

Beliefs about what people should do.

Proscriptive Beliefs

Beliefs about what people should not do.

Social Identity Theory

A theory stating that part of an individual's self-concept comes from the social groups to which they belong.

Social Identity

Aspects of identity based on group membership, such as race, religion, or nationality.

Personal Identity

Aspects of identity based on individual characteristics and traits, such as personality and talents.

Social Categorization

The cognitive process of classifying people into distinct groups.

Social Identification

The process of adopting the identity and norms of a specific group.

Social Comparison

The process of comparing one's own group to other groups.

Ethnocentrism

The tendency to judge other cultures using the standards of one's own culture, often viewing one's own culture as superior.

Stigma

A socially discrediting characteristic that causes a person or group to be devalued or discriminated against.

Self-Stigma

The internalizing of negative societal stereotypes about oneself.

Public Stigma

Negative attitudes or discrimination originating from society toward an individual or group.

Associative Stigma

Stigma experienced due to a connection to a stigmatized person or group.

Personal Stigma

Stigma directed toward the individual personally.

Solo Status

The condition of being the only member of one's social group present in a setting.

Agent Groups

In Harro's Cycle of Socialization, groups that hold social power and privilege.

Target Groups

In Harro's Cycle of Socialization, groups that experience oppression and discrimination.

Core of the Cycle of Socialization

The underlying drivers at the center of Harro's cycle, consisting of fear, ignorance, insecurity, and confusion.

Sex

Biological characteristics such as chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy.

Gender

Socially constructed roles, expressions, and identities.

Gender Identity

A person's internal sense of their own gender.

Cisgender

A term describing an individual whose gender identity matches their assigned sex at birth.

Transgender

A term describing an individual whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth.

Nonbinary

A gender identity describing someone who does not identify exclusively as male or female.

Genderqueer

A gender identity that lies outside of traditional categories.

Gender Fluid

A gender identity that changes over time.

Gender Stereotypes

Beliefs regarding how males and females should behave.

Gender Differences

Actual measured differences between gender groups.

Gender Roles

Societal expectations associated with gender.

Gender Stability

The understanding of gender that develops around age 4 to 5.

Gender Constancy

The understanding of gender that develops around age 6 to 7.

Developmental Intergroup Theory

A theory proposing that children learn social categories from the environment and attach meaning to those categories.

Gender Schema Theory

A theory proposing that children actively organize information into gender-based schemas that guide their understanding and behavior.

Social Learning Theory (Gender)

A theory stating that gender behaviors are learned through observation, imitation, reinforcement, and punishment.

Hostile Sexism

Overtly negative attitudes toward a gender.

Benevolent Sexism

Seemingly positive attitudes that reinforce traditional gender roles and inequality.

Mental Rotation Tasks

Spatial ability tests involving mentally rotating objects in space, often cited as evidence for average sex differences despite substantial overlap and environmental influences.