1. Nature and Nurture: What do twin studies tell us about nature/nurture?

Also,
Discuss the influence of heredity in explaining the process of ones personality
and intellectual development.
Twin studies tell us about nature/nurture because identical twins can categorize
what similarities they can show in personality behavior, emotional behavior, and
intellectual behavior. For example, my brother is and extrovert and myself is an
introvert. My brother likes hip-hop music and myself is indie music. Even though we
are not twins we still have the same similarities. The influence of heredity in relation
of ones personality and intellectual development does tie in with heredity with its
qualities. It differs more in their attitude, values, comfort, and assistance. However,
some behavioral properties reflect its genes, they are dependent on socialization and
cultural.
2. What is the self? According to Charles Horton Cooley, explain the looking glass
self (discuss the three phases). George Herbert Mead also discusses the stage of
the self: identify differences between I and Me. What is meant by significant
others? How are significant others related to the self? Identify Meads three-stage
process of self-development.
Self is our awareness of whom we are, how we are shaped with how we look and as
well social interactions. Cooley demonstrates his expressions looking-glass self as a
theory based on how others see us. The three phases displays first, how we imagine
others see us such as friends, family, and those we dont know. Second, how we imagine
others see us based on personality, intelligence, and emotions. Finally, we describe
ourselves with assumption of Do I look weird in this? or I am smart? Meads shows
the differences of I and Me and how I is the acting part of us. We mentally and
physically take part of walking, talking, and our showing actions. Me is the socializing
part of us. It illustrates all our past experience to strategize our actions and then judge our
routine after. Meads three stages of the self are: preparatory stage, play stage, game
stage. The preparatory stage starts until the age of three; during that stage the child
imitates those around itself like family members. The play stage is about the ages of three
to five; during that they begin to pretend to be other people. And lastly the game stage
ranges from six to nine years old. They demonstrate that they dont mimic others and
begin to realize their tasks and relationships.
3. Explain the dramaturgical approach. What occurs on front-stage? What happens
in backstage? How can Erving Goffmans idea of impression management and
face-work be used to understand social behavior?
The dramaturgical approach focuses on interaction just like being an actor being
successful. The front-stage is where youre front-and-center of the stage that has all the
props and cast members to help back the actor out. The back-stage helps make everything
on front-stage look great. Without back-stage they wouldnt make the performance
convincing. Goffmans idea between impression management and face-work can be used
to understand social behavior because few of us care of how we are portrayed based on

how we act and how we look. People tend to find positive ways or beat around the bush
to fulfill certain type of people and for face-work we want to elude and save the
embarrassment in the future.
4. Identify the agents of socialization. What is the role of schools in gender role
socialization? How has technology (computer, cell phone, email, and TV)
influenced the socialization process?
Agents of socialization are the people whom we influence by on how we think about
ourselves and how we characterize ourselves to others, and also the influence they have.
School teaches a community the values and customs of society because high school
students are exposed to new things to think and act upon to make choices about their
future. As children get old they like to depend more on their friends for help and guidance
rather than family because children are used to seeing their friends everyday and they
learn off each other. Technology is growing and new gadgets are changing the way we
communicate with each other. The overload use of Internet is causing us to talk less and
care more about what filter to use for today.
5. What are total institutions? Identify Goffmans four traits of total institutions.
Discuss how a degradation ceremony is used to mortify ones sense of self.
Total institution refers to organization that abides to rules and authority. For example,
young teens go to summer camp because youre removed from society and joining a new
community for a few months to learn about yourself, but also accept by values of camp.
Erving Goffman states about the four traits of total institution, First, all aspects of life
are conducted in the same place under the controls of a single authority. Second, Any
activities within the institution are conducted in the company of others in the same
circumstances for example, army recruits or novices in a convent. Third, The
authorities devise rules and schedule activities without consulting the participants. Lastly,
all aspects of life within a total institution are designed to fulfill the purpose of the
organization. Thus, all activities in a monastery might be centered on prayer and
communion with God. Degradation ceremony is stripped off of what everything he or
she possesses and becoming a new member and losing their old identity and starting new.
6. How does society deal with an elderly population? Discuss differences between
disengagement theory and activity theory? Finally, provide solutions to ageism.
Society deals with the elderly population in different variation especially to different
cultures. For example, one culture or society can treat elderly with admiration because of
how well they still can care for themselves, whereas, in a different society or culture they
see them as weak and challenging. The differences between disengagement theory and
activity theory are one wants to separate society and aging, although, one benefits of
remaining active and socially involved will have a better life. Robert Butler states,
Ageism refer to prejudice and discrimination based on a persons age.