Social identity theory.

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Nature and Nurture.

Nature: Genetics, what you are born with. Nature is your genes. The physical and personallity traits determinined by th egenes you have inherited they same irrespective of where you were born and raised. For example, eye, skin and hair colour. Your sex, **: Female. XY:Male. 

Nurture: What you've grown up with, experiences. Nurture is how you are brought up. For example an individuals may carry the genes to be able to grow to a normal height but be malnorished during thier childhood resulting in a stunted growth and a faiure to develop as expected. Nurture is alos how an idividual is socialised through primary and secondary socialisation, For example we learn manners through primary socialisationand we learn what clothing is seen as acceptable through secondary socialisation.

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Kath Woodawrd: Social Identity theory

Kath Woodward.

Our identies are created and maintained through interaction.

Internally: We create our identity by associating with others who we believe we are similar to and distancing ourselves from those we dont feel similar to. (Individual Agency)

  • We label others around us. e.g. Male, Female, Goth, Punk e.c.t.
  • We categorise ourselves into one of the labels we associate ourselves with.
  • We compare ourselves to others (this comparision maintains our identity- if there are others that we feel are better in comparison we may then start to associate ourselves with them and take upon a anew identity).

Extenally: Our idenitity is created and maintained through others. The way the others see us and infulence and limit our identity. (Interpellation)

  • For example, if a 90 year old women identifies herself as a 18 year old teenager thus dressing as an 18 year old. she may be subjected to structural contraints suchg as not being taken seriously by individuals in society and disregared causinh her to identify herself differently. 

These restrictions are called 'Structrual Constraints', by Kath Woodward. 

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George Mead: Symbolic meanings of human behaviour.

George Mead: All humans behaviour is based on symbolic meanings.

  • We 'typify' all actions - for instance weraing a suit may be symbolic of importance, seriousness or status.
  • We may use certain symbols to protray our identities.

For example,  We may symbolise wearing designer labels with wealth. We may wear designer labels such as Armani to potray a wealthy identity. 

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Goffman. Dramaturgical Model (Social Identity the

Goffman: All humans are actors.

  • We realise how other people view us and behave in a way that portarys or identity to what we think is best. 

For example. We may wear professional clothing to an interview in order to be percieved as prepared and a adequate candidate for a job position as this is what we think will potray our identity in the best possible light. 

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