Overview
This lecture covers key sociological concepts including nature vs nurture, stages of development, identity formation, communication styles, intercultural communication, and the cultural practices and challenges of the Tuareg people.
Nature vs Nurture and Social Constructs
- Nature refers to biological and hereditary qualities in humans.
- Nurture is the environment and social experiences impacting an individual.
- Adolescence is a social construct, not universal across cultures.
- Rites of passage blend culture and biology to signify identity changes.
Developmental Theories: Piaget and Erikson
- Piaget: Cognitive development occurs in four universal stages—sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operations.
- Sensorimotor (0-18m): Object permanence.
- Preoperational (18m-7y): Egocentrism.
- Concrete operational (6/7-11y): Perspective taking.
- Formal operations (adolescence+): Abstract reasoning.
- Erikson: Eight psychosocial stages from trust vs mistrust (infancy) to integrity vs despair (old age).
- Each Erikson stage focuses on a core social conflict and its outcome shapes personality.
Identity and Power
- Identity is understanding oneself as an individual and group member.
- Social identity is constructed by others and may differ from self-identity.
- Four identity statuses: diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, achievement.
- Personal power: control over one's life; social power: influence over others.
Generation and Social Change
- A generation is an age group shaped by significant events.
- Mannheim: Generations share historical context and awareness, but are internally diverse.
- Generational theory explains worldview formation based on era of birth.
Communication: Types and Functions
- Communication is transferring messages to evoke understanding and response.
- Verbal forms: intrapersonal, interpersonal, small group, public.
- Non-verbal cues: body language, facial expressions, gestures, proxemics.
- Communication functions include informing, influencing, expressing, motivating, and social control.
Intercultural Communication
- Effective intercultural communication requires understanding different cultures and messages.
- Barriers include prejudice, enculturation, and ethnocentrism.
- Cultural relativism: judging behaviour only by that culture's standards.
- Dimensions: individualism-collectivism, context, uncertainty avoidance, power distance, masculinity-femininity.
Communication Styles and Variability
- Styles include direct/indirect, elaborate/exacting/succinct, personal/contextual, instrumental/affective.
- Mediums and cues are greatly influenced by technology and culture.
- Technology has revolutionized communication across generations.
Social Relationships and Controls
- Social relationships offer emotional, material, and health benefits.
- Social control is maintaining norms via informal (family, peers) and formal (laws, courts) mechanisms.
- Communication is central to maintaining relationships and social order.
Changing Communication Technologies
- Technology has shifted how generations communicate (phone, email, social media, emojis).
- Internet use can lead to addiction and new challenges (e.g., trolling).
- Technology enables cross-generational and cross-cultural communication and globalisation.
The Tuareg: Culture, Identity, and Misunderstanding
- The Tuareg are a Saharan nomadic group with strong cultural identity and tradition.
- Historically matrilineal, artistic, and possess unique clothing (Taglemust).
- Stereotyped by colonial narratives and misunderstood in modern media.
- Face challenges maintaining identity across borders and within shifting social/political contexts.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Nature — Hereditary, biological components of humans.
- Nurture — Environmental impacts on development.
- Social construct — A concept created and accepted by society.
- Rites of passage — Cultural ceremonies marking transitions.
- Cognitive development — Changes in thinking abilities over time.
- Psychosocial development — Erikson's theory of personality shaped by social relationships.
- Identity statuses — Diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, achievement.
- Enculturation — Learning cultural norms/behaviours.
- Cultural relativism — Evaluating cultures by their own standards.
- Proxemics — Study of personal space in communication.
- Acculturation — Adopting traits from another culture.
- Communication Accommodation Theory — Adjusting communication to reduce or emphasize differences.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review Piaget and Erikson’s stages for exam preparation.
- Reflect on your own generation’s communication styles.
- Practise identifying types of communication in real-life scenarios.
- Read further on Tuareg culture for case study understanding.