A Sociological Exploration of Self

Reflect on your life to this point through the lens of your sociological imagination. In your writing, please be sure to explain thoroughly how culture and socialization have shaped your sense of self and your life. I expect you to use sociological concepts discussed in class and from assigned readings, while also using parts of your life to illustrate these concepts. More specifically, you must discuss the following prompts about your unique culture and socialization: Culture prompts: • Discuss how specific components (or “building blocks”) of culture have shaped who you are today (like symbols, language, values, norms, rituals, etc.). • Describe and explain examples of material and nonmaterial culture that are meaningful to you. Socialization prompts: • Discuss at least one agent of socialization (like family, peers, school, mass media, and religion) and its impact on your construction of self. • Apply at least one theory of socialization (like Cooley, Mead, or Goffman) to a particular part of your life. I invite you to reflect on the following questions as you write: What social factors have aided in making you the person that you are today? How has culture shaped you? What aspects of culture have been important, or even unimportant, in creating your sense of self? How has your process of socialization been unique? What agents of socialization have had the most influence on you? Why? How has it all served to bring you where you are today?