This lesson introduces psychological theories of self-development and explains how psychology and sociology approach human behavior differently. Understanding these perspectives shows how personal development can involve both mental processes and social relationships.
Sigmund Freud proposed that self-development is closely connected to early stages of maturation. In his account, development involves stages, and difficulty engaging with or moving beyond a particular stage may have emotional and psychological consequences later in adulthood. Freud emphasized psychosexual development and basic human urges.
All flashcards
What is Cooley’s looking-glass self?
The idea that self-understanding is shaped partly by how people imagine others see and judge them.
What is Mead’s generalized other?
Society’s shared expectations and standards, which people learn to consider when judging their actions.
What are Kohlberg’s three levels of moral development?
Preconventional, conventional, and postconventional levels, describing increasingly complex ways of reasoning about moral questions.
What did Gilligan question about Kohlberg’s research and theory?
She noted that Kohlberg’s research used only male subjects and challenged the priority given to justice over care.
What is gender socialization?
The process of learning social expectations associated with sex through interactions, language, activities, and other cultural practices.
Quiz questions
Which contrast best describes Freud’s and Erikson’s accounts of development?Answer: Freud emphasized early psychosexual stages; Erikson described eight stages across the lifespan.
How did Piaget relate children’s mental development to social experience?Answer: He described development as a negotiation between mental understanding and the socially experienced world.
What did Harlow’s surrogate-mother research suggest about young rhesus monkeys?Answer: They sought emotional support from cloth-covered surrogates rather than relying in the same way on wire ones.
A researcher studies how dating norms shape when people have a first kiss. Which perspective is most directly represented?Answer: Sociology, because the researcher examines social norms and patterns.
Why is Durkheim’s analysis of suicide rates an example of a sociological approach?Answer: He connected differences in rates to social causes, including religious differences.
Based on Introduction to Sociology 3e by Tonja R. Conerly, Kathleen Holmes, Asha Lal Tamang (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.