Post 4

In sociology, we have been learning about the socialization process. We have studied closely the distinction between nature and nurture, and how each are an significant part in a child's social development. Nature refers to how you are influenced biologically, such as how your genes that you acquire from your parents influence your personality. For example, if you are born with a mental health condition such as bipolar disorder, this would show how nurture influences your personality and identity. On the other hand, nurture, is how your environment and how you were raised influences you. In class, the video we watched, "Danielle, Consuming Kids" is a great example of how nurture affects children. Since children are constantly exposed to adversisements and are being exposed to the market non stop, it's going to have a huge influence on who they are. If a child is exposed every day to a SpongeBob commercial, sooner or later they will start to like SpongeBob. Another example of nurture are agents of socialization. Agents of socialization are outside factors that influence how you act and who you are. For example, family. How your parents raise you and how your siblings influence you can and will effect your personality. If your parents put a lot of pressure on you about school, school will be a priority for you, and vice versa. We have also talked about manifest lessons and latent lessons. Manifest lessons are lessons that you are specifically taught and told, while latent lessons are hidden lessons and things your aquire without you being aware that you are learning them. For example, school. A manifest lesson that school has taught me is how to solve an algebra problem. I was taught specifically the steps I need to take to do so. While on the other hand, a latent lesson that school has taught me is time management. Nobody ever specifically taught me how to manage my time, I have just acquired it over time because it is necessary in order to be organized. Overall, all of the concepts that we have recently learned revolve around the socialization process.

Post 3

During the second half of Unit 1, we examined a lot of new vocabulary and ideas. Some of these ideas incude Macro/Micro Sociology, Groups, Ingroups/Outgroups, and Categories/Sterotypes. We examined Macro/Micro Sociology through the Abandon Ship activity. Macro Sociology is how we are influenced by the big groups we are in; the big picture. The fact that we are all Americans and had the same strategy of how to kick people off of the ship illustrated Macro Sociology. The smaller groups we are a part of and how we are influenced by them or the "small picture" illustrate Micro Sociology. Groups are defined as all of the groups you are a part of. We examined Ingroups/Outgroups within the gym shoe activity in class. The groups you are a part of are your "Ingroups" and the groups you are not a part of are your "Outgroups". Similarly, the people wearing gym shoes felt as if the group wearing gym shoes were in their Ingroup, and the people not wearing gym shoes were an Outgroup, and vice versa.

My Sociological Imagination (Post 2)

A Sociological Imagination is defined as who you are being influenced by where and when you live. It's being aware that you are who you are because of the environment around you. It's the intersection of biography and history. I am a strong believer than I am who I am because of what's around me. I feel the obligation to go to a 4 year Big 10 University because I attend SHS. I feel the obligation to go to parties and to socialize because of the people I'm friends with, and I couldn't imagine it any other way. I feel pressured to get A's in my regular classes because of the kids in my classes getting A'a in their AP classes. If I lived 100 years ago, I definitely would not feel the pressure to take as many AP classes as I possibly can. I feel that I'm healthy and have a roof over my head because of soicietys value of money today. In class, we examined Sociological Imaginations through an excerpt from "Outliers". The people of Roseto aren't having heart attacks because of where they live. The fact that they are social and friendly with their neighbors is affecting their health, in a positive way. On the other hand, the people of the United States have a higher rate of heart attacks because of where they live. We tend to not have a relationship with our neighbors, and as a result we are at higher risks for heart attacks. It is important to have a Sociological Imagination, and to realize that we can change our mindsets and even our health if we realize that we are influenced by where and when we live.

About me... (Post 1)

My name is Analese and I'm 17 years old. I'm currently a senior in high school and have yet to decided where I'm going to college, but I'm debating between The University of Illinois and Indiana University. I'm going into college as an undecided major, but I know in the future I want to pursue a career that benefits society and helps people in some way. I'm a very hard working and goal oriented person, and like to challenge myself. I'm the captain of the Varsity Poms team at my high school, and this year is my third year on the team. My freshman year I was on the Junior Varsity team. I started dancing in 7th grade, but before then I did gymnastics until I was about 10. I live with both of my parents,  my brother who's a sophomore, and my dog, Willy. The biggest influences in my life are my parents, my friends, my teammates, and my coaches. They're the reason why I am the person I am today. My goals in life are to be the best person I can be and to hopefully make an impact.