Personal and social identity

Question 1

Define The nature vs nurture debate.

Answer 1

Nature: inherited characteristics and innate drives
Nurture: environmental influences and learning

Individuals product of hereditary/environmental factors.
‘Biological’ you vs ‘social’ you

Question 2

Define Adolescence as a social construct and its validity for different cultures

Answer 2

‘The period in which a child develops physically and goes through hormonal changes. Maturity’

Question 3

Give examples of different adolescence

Answer 3

Difference between Amish, British and Mexican, US and Nigerian adolescence
In Mexico teen girls need to work, no school
US teens care about appearance
Nigeria prioritises school
British teens enjoy freedom
They share similarities, values as well as differences based on experiences

Question 4

Define Jean Piagets theory

Answer 4

Cognitive Theories that children progress through 4 different stages of mental development before reaching adulthood.
Sensorimotor stage (Birth - 2 years)
preoperational stage (Ages 2 - 7)
Concrete Operational stage (7 - 11)
Formal Operational stage (12+)
Piaget believed that children take an active role in the learning process as they perform experiments, observations.Adolescence to adulthood (stage 4) most important stage, allowing developed level of thinking.

Question 5

Define Deferred gratification

Answer 5

Resisting impulse

Question 6

Define Erik Erikson’s theory

Answer 6

based on the influence of the environment.

He saw the development of the emotional self and the
consequent sense of identity as being closely linked to the
environment from birth (‘dealing with crises’).
1.Trust or mistrust (0-1) - 2.Self confidence or self doubt (2-3) -
3.Positive or negative self image (4-5)
4. Industry or inferiority (6-11) 5.Identity of Confusion (12-18) 6.Intimacy or isolation (Y/A) -
7.Other centeredness or self centredness (Middle)
8.Success or failure (elder) - Accomplishment

Question 7

Define Transitions through life course and

Answer 7

Growth and maturity, accepting rights/responsibilities
Adulthood: privileges/responsibilities that distinguish status within any society
Life Course:
Transitions individuals pass during their lives
Travelled differently in cultures and over time
Differs according to social class, gender, ethnicity, etc.

Question 8

Define rite of passage and give examples. What is the amish one called

Answer 8

a ceremony or event marking an important stage in someone’s life, especially birth, the transition from childhood to adulthood, marriage, and death.
For example: graduation, licence, turning 16, first period etc
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