Socialisation & the Self

Watch

• My journey to self love | Dr Andrea Pennington | TEDxPeterborough ↗TEDx Talks
• How Culture Drives Behaviours | Julien S. Bourrelle | TEDxTrondheim ↗TEDx Talks
• Why You Feel Anxious Socializing (and What to Do about It) | Fallon Goodman | TED ↗TED
• What Self-Esteem Is ↗The School of Life
• Why Being Alone Feels Better Than Socializing ↗MindShift Psychology

Read

• Human Nature and the Social Order ↗Introduces the enduring concept of the 'looking-glass self,' demonstrating how our self-image is profoundly shaped by our interpretation of others' perceptions.Charles Horton Cooley
• Mind, Self, and Society ↗This foundational text elucidates how the self, mind, and society are inextricably linked, emerging through symbolic interaction and the adoption of the 'generalized other'.George Herbert Mead
• The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life ↗A seminal work employing a dramaturgical metaphor to reveal how individuals strategically manage impressions and perform roles in social interactions, constructing their public selves.Erving Goffman
• The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge ↗Explores the profound thesis that human reality, including our subjective experience of self, is not given but is socially constructed through shared meanings and institutionalisation.Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann
• Deep Play: Notes on the Balinese CockfightA masterclass in interpretive anthropology, this essay unpacks how a seemingly simple cultural event can serve as a profound text for understanding a society's values, status, and the very nature of the self.Clifford Geertz

Voices to follow

• Yuval Noah Harari ↗For his sweeping narratives on humanity's past and future, dissecting how shared fictions and collective beliefs construct the individual and society.Historian and public intellectual, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
• Steven Pinker ↗Offers a rigorous, evidence-based perspective on human nature, challenging prevailing notions of the self's malleability and the interplay of biology and culture.Cognitive psychologist and author, Harvard University
• Jonathan Haidt ↗Illuminates the deep-seated psychological mechanisms that drive moral and political tribalism, revealing how social forces shape our most fundamental beliefs and identities.Social psychologist and author, New York University
• Brené Brown ↗Translates complex research on vulnerability, courage, and shame into accessible insights, demonstrating the profound impact of social connection and authenticity on individual well-being.Research professor and author, University of Houston

Glossary

• Agents of SocialisationAgents of socialisation are the people, groups, and institutions that teach us how to be a part of society and influence our development. They are the teachers in our lives. For example, your family, school, friends (peer group), and even media like TV and social media are all agents of socialisation.
• CultureCulture is the shared way of life of a group of people, including their customs, beliefs, arts, food, and social habits. It's everything that a group of people creates and shares. For example, the festivals celebrated in India, the traditional clothing, and the types of food eaten are all parts of Indian culture.
• FamilyThe family is usually the first and most important agent of socialisation, teaching children basic behaviors, values, and language. It's the primary group where you learn about the world. For example, your family teaches you how to eat with a spoon, share your toys, and respect elders.
• IdentityIdentity is the distinct character or personality of an individual, or the qualities that make a person or group different from others. It's about who you are and what makes you, you. For example, being an Indian student, a football fan, and a loyal friend are all parts of your identity.
• Looking-Glass SelfThe looking-glass self is a concept that explains how our self-concept is shaped by how we imagine others see us. We essentially see ourselves as a reflection of how we think others perceive us. For example, if you think your friends see you as funny and smart, you might start to believe you are funny and smart yourself.
• NormsNorms are the unwritten rules or expectations that guide how people should behave in specific situations within a society or group. They tell you what is considered normal or acceptable. For example, it's a norm to stand in a queue for your turn, or to not talk loudly in a library.
• Peer GroupA peer group is a group of people who are similar in age, social status, and interests, and who influence each other's behaviors and attitudes. These are usually your friends or classmates. For example, your group of friends at school who share similar hobbies and tastes in music form your peer group.
• RoleA role is a set of expected behaviors, duties, and responsibilities that come with a certain position or situation in society. It's like a script you follow based on who you are at that moment. For example, when you are at school, you play the role of a student, which means you're expected to attend classes, do homework, and respect your teachers.
• Self-conceptYour self-concept is the overall idea you have about who you are, including your beliefs about your personality, strengths, weaknesses, and what makes you unique. It's like your personal mental picture of yourself. For example, if you think of yourself as a kind, creative person who is good at sports, that's part of your self-concept.
• SocialisationSocialisation is the lifelong process where you learn how to behave, think, and feel in a way that is accepted by your society. It's how you become a part of the world around you. For example, learning to say "please" and "thank you" or understanding that you shouldn't interrupt when someone else is speaking are all part of socialisation.
• ValuesValues are the important beliefs and principles that guide how you live and make decisions, showing what you think is good, right, or worthwhile. They are the things you care about most. For example, if you believe honesty is very important, then honesty is one of your core values, and you'll try to always tell the truth.

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Where this connects to other fields, and why it's worth knowing.

• Free Will and Responsibility Philosophy

  Your sense of right and wrong wasn't chosen by you; it was installed by whoever raised you, like software you never picked. So when we blame someone for a bad choice, we're partly blaming a program someone else wrote. That makes handing out blame a lot slipperier than it looks.

• Genetics & DNA Science

  How you were raised, neglect or warmth, doesn't just shape your behavior; it can flip chemical switches sitting on your genes, turning some up or down. That means your childhood gets physically written onto your DNA. Startlingly, some of those marks can even be passed down to your own kids.

• Immunology Health

  Deep in your chest, an organ called the thymus kills off immune cells that would attack your own body, teaching your immune system what counts as 'you.' Growing up does the same thing to a kid: society prunes away the impulses that would hurt the group. Both your body and your upbringing build a 'self' by carefully deciding what to tolerate and what to destroy.