Sociobiography Narrated PowerPoint – Comparative Case Study

Reflection in Sociology

Student Name

Introduction

A sociologist would introduce me as a social and optimistic person.

This considers the behavior I exhibit when interacting with others.

The social networks have helped in shape behaviors impacting my life experiences and relations.

Humans as social creatures are articulated to exhibit varying behaviors during interactions. From my perspective, a sociologist would describe me as a social and optimistic person. Social behavior is highly exhibited when am interacting with others. Additionally, I am able to conform with different groups despite differences in opinions and beliefs. Optimism, on the other hand, can be observed in how I view each life situation. For instance, I usually associate problems with a positive effect which can influence my life. The positivity generated also influences how I interact with others even during difficult situations. Both optimism and social networks impact my life experiences and relations.

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Social Influences and Forces

Social influences affect thoughts and behavior as influenced by group conformance.

Conformity, compliance, and obedience are high as facilitated by social forces.

Social forces are observed to influence motives leading to group relationship.

Social influences have facilitated obedience, conformance, and conformity shaping the person I am. For example, joining and conforming to groups requires one to obey and accept the existing beliefs and values which the group holds (Gaspar et al., 2017). This has influenced changes which shape how I behave and how I think in the social environment. On the other hand, social forces can facilitate social influences. The forces follow motives and drives leading to group relationships. The forces are also seen to define the groups I choose to identify with after their formation. The motives may be for personal or professional purposes.

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Autonomy and Conformity

Autonomy and conformity pressures can be seen to impact pressure during socialization.

Both factors have to be balanced to have optimal and positive social relations.

The individual’s and group beliefs are integrated in the process.

Both autonomy and conformity pressures influence how individuals form a balance in group and individual values. With autonomy focusing on individual beliefs, conformity focuses on the acceptance of group beliefs for acceptance (Mallison & Hatemi, 2018). In my case, I usually balance the two factors through personal thinking to negotiate the crisscrossing pressures. For instance, I have to identify whether I believe and accept the group beliefs and how they influence my own beliefs. Integration of all the beliefs will be reflected in the decisions I make affecting me as well as other group members. The integration can also be observed on behaviors exhibited to fit within a specific group.

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Social Context in Socialization Imagination

Social context is exhibited during responses to social environment affecting perceptions.

Social context facilitates my social imagination influencing the adoption of different perspectives.

Social imagination attributes to perspective changes leading to different choices.

I perceive to be a calm person even in unwelcoming environments. Social imagination is seen to create an understanding of the changing social scene. This facilitates changes in thoughts and perceptions. On the other hand, social context is enabled through changes in responses in the social environment (Saras & Perez, 2018). Different perspectives exhibited in the social context are associated with social imagination. I adopt various perspectives depending on the social situation, group, and circumstance. This can be observed to enable me to utilize social imagination in my social context. Different perspectives held and chosen ensure that I maintain positivity even in unwelcoming environments.

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Sociological Concepts in Life Experiences

Agents of socialization are helpful in understanding and interpreting my life experiences.

The agents articulate how culture and social values shape behavior and beliefs.

Further, the agents influence acceptance of certain behaviors in groups.

Agents of socialization enable socialization as well as emotional support when individuals are adopting social positions. In addition, the agents articulate how culture and social values shape behavior and beliefs (Kendall, 2010). This influences the acceptance of certain behaviors in social settings especially groups during conformance. The agents have been helpful in my understanding and interpretations of life experiences. This is because most experiences are facilitated by the values and beliefs I have chosen shaping my emotions, thoughts, and behavior. The beliefs and values have been transmitted through the cultural and social agents providing an opportunity to live.

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Continuation

Culture relativism has also impacted my understanding an interpretation of life experiences.

This considers cultural diversity in the social setting am currently living in.

Values and perspectives have to be developed to assimilate the new cultures.

My current living situation considers different cultures as most are immigrants. Despite not been an immigrant, I usually socialize with the communities and listen to their beliefs and norms. To accept the cultural differences presented, I have to change my views and perceptions which have been disseminated about the communities. This would lead to the assimilation of different culture behavior and customs without standards. Further, the balance created during social imagination helps during the culture relativism to reduce expectations as per culture standards (Kendall, 2010). The concept has enabled a simplified understanding and interpretation of my current experiences when developing cultural standards.

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Relations Impacting Life

Group associations in educational settings have impacted my life significantly.

In addition, social networks in the local community charity have influenced my life experiences.

The support and social networks developed are reflected in current relationships.

Various events in life have influence my socialization process significantly. First, group associations in educational settings enabled me to acquire the social nature I exhibit in my daily life. It was mandatory for every student as early as pre-school to form groups both in and out of class for educational purposes. Second, last year’s charity event in my local community created a milestone in socialization. I usually participated as a volunteer previously, but during last year’s event I was an organizer. This presented me with an opportunity to meet many influential people and form relationships with them. I perceive that the development of the new social networks will be imperative in my life influencing positive experiences.

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Conclusion

Socialization processes have shaped my beliefs, values, and norms influencing life experiences.

Various socialization concepts learned are imperative in understanding and interpreting current life experiences.

Current social networks will be utilized to impact future relations significantly.

Values, beliefs, and norms acquired during the socialization process can be seen to shape my behavior and thoughts on different life topics. This is reflected in decisions undertaken to influence positive life outcomes and experiences. Various socialization concepts learned are imperative in understanding and interpreting current life experiences. For example, cultural relativism and agents of socialization create an understanding of changes perceived since childhood to adulthood. Current social networks will be utilized to impact future relations significantly. The networks have been facilitated from past and current events increasing the social networking areas.

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References

Kendall, D. (2010). Sociology in our time: the essentials, 8th edition. Cengage learning.

Gaspar, T., Cabrita, T. & Matos, M. (2017). Psychological and social factors that influence quality of life: gender, age, and professional status differences. Psychology research 7 (9).

Malison, D. & Hatemi, P. (2018). The effects of information and social conformity on opinion change. PLoS ONE 13(5).

Saras, E. & Perez, L. (2018). Sociological perspectives on socialization. Oxford Bibliography.