PSY 309 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: George Herbert Mead, Erving Goffman, Thomas Theorem
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Nature vs. nurture: are we the people that we are because of our genetics or our socialization, both play a role in making us who we are. Socialization is the process of learning and internalizing the values, beliefs, and norms of our social group. The socialization process begins in infancy and lasts throughout the lifetime. The self is our experience of a personal identity, which is separate and different from all other people. Sociologists believe the self is created and modified through interaction during the lifespan. Acquisition of language skills coincides with the growth of mental capacities, including the ability to think of ourselves as separate and distinct and to see ourselves in relationship to others. W. i. tho(cid:373)as states that (cid:862)if people defi(cid:374)e situatio(cid:374)s as (cid:396)eal, the(cid:455) a(cid:396)e (cid:396)eal i(cid:374) thei(cid:396) (cid:272)o(cid:374)se(cid:395)ue(cid:374)(cid:272)es. (cid:863) this is (cid:374)o(cid:449) (cid:272)alled the tho(cid:373)as theo(cid:396)e(cid:373) Bc we encounter ambiguous situations every day, many meanings are possible.
