Examine the ways in which childhood can be said to be socially constructed. (24 marks) Some sociologists see childhood as socially constructed, which means that it is something created and defined by society. They argue that the positions children occupy in society are not fixed, but differ with regards to cultures, places and times. It is generally accepted today that children are different from adults. There is a belief that children’s lack of knowledge, experience and skills call for them to be nurtured and socialised for a protected time before they are ready for adulthood and the responsibilities that come with it.
Sociologists say that childhood socially constructed (which means that it is created and defined by society). They say that the position children have in society is not permanently fixed, it changes over time. This is obvious by looking at how childhood is seen in other cultures and the past. It is accepted in our society now that childhood should be a special time of life, children are seen as being different from adults so should be treated differently because they are physically and psychologically immature and are not able to be dependent. So they are seen to need a lengthy period of time where they are nurtured and socialised before they are seen as responsible adults in society.
He also suggested that children are not born with knowledge but they gain it through their social interactions with peers and adults; he does not rule out the importance of biological processes but proposes an interdependent relationship between biological development alongside social activity and cultural interaction. Vygotskys theory opened a new world of cognitive development, once his work had been translated to English, his ideas became influential because they addressed the role of social factors in cognitive development which Piaget overlooked. While Piaget proposed a biological approach to cognitive development, Vygotsky believed that cultural and social interactions were fundamental to a child’s development. Children are not born with knowledge, but rather it is gained through social interactions with adults and peers. Knowledge, is therefore not independent of the social context and we become ourselves through others.
In the novel The Kite Runner Amir and Sohrab suffer from Post traumatic stress disorder. Post traumatic stress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder. It is mental health problem that can occur after someone goes through a life threatining experience or traumatic event that involved injury or death. Post traumatic stress disorder can occur at any age. It is impossible to predict who will develop post traumatic stress disorder in response to trauma, for there are certain risk factors that increase vulnerability.
All these institutions have a purpose. The purpose is served by individuals coming together becoming an organised group (Mike O’Donnell 1997) We as humans do not know how to behave when we are born. We learn this through a process of socialisation. Socialisation is a lifelong process in which we are always learning the most considerable part is in early childhood this is known as primary socialisation. An example of primary socialisation would be if a child grew up where prejudices were oblivious and apparent the child would then learn these prejudices as part of their norms believing their prejudices was acceptable.
Culture is that which is made up of non-traditional and traditional social behaviors, practices, and customs. Children are being raised to have their own life and beliefs and not those of their parents. If parents are involved socially in their children lives, then their
To what extent is childhood a social construct? Social construct = a socially created aspect of life. Social constructionalists argue that human beings actively and creatively produce society. Childhood is an example of a social construct as it is not a natural or a biological state therefore being socially constructed. The understanding of children is that they are not the same everywhere and they are different from adults, how they are different, and the expectations placed on them differ depending on the society they live in.
Lastly, the various personality models may be changed to justify for the differences in the personal, societal, and cultural will be discussed. Influence of Cultural A person’s culture can be defined as everything that makes up an individual’s life. Culture influences in the development of a child continues into adulthood. Culture effects personality in a variety of ways. Behaviors tend to be culturally patterned with childhood experiences influencing personality as an adult and socialization throughout childhood and adulthood shape personality patterns.
Our perceptions of reality are influenced not only by the stage of life but what we are continually reminded is and isn’t acceptable in the world in which we live, according to our caregivers and those of influence around us. It is here that our viewpoints and reality of the world are shaped. As a child we are ruled by our senses and our emotional experiences connected to these events. Everything is a new and exciting experience, in most cases. Childhood will provide a variety of experiences,
This human process is called social development. This being said, it is a continual change of human behaviors, feelings, and interpersonal thoughts; which will continue to develop over our life-span. Each phase of personal development will be essential in overall growth during childhood through adulthood. Social influences come from solitary comrade or group settings, which can have powerful effects on personal behaviors. The extent in which individuals are influences can depend on self-esteem levels, and individual strengths from moral, values to self-identity.