Sociology and the Brain

1. Sociology and the Brain 9/25/13

2. Freud • Sigmund Freud explained the pysche in his structural model. • Foundation: (3 personalities) • Id: instinctual, basic needs • Ego: realistic part, mediates desires of id and super-ego • Super-ego: plays the critical and moralizing role • The super-ego can stop you from doing certain things that your id may want you to do.

3. Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development Or... The Six-ish Stages of Morality that apply to everybody ever in the history of always

4. Kohlberg • 3 levels • 6 stages

5. What’s the difference? • Id – only component present at birth. • It is the source of our bodily needs, wants, desires, and impulses, particularly our sexual and aggressive drives.

6. Stage 0 At this stage, the individual: • Avoids pain and seeks pleasure • Has no sense of obligation to anyone else • Is self-absorbed (unaware or anyone’s needs other than those that are self-serving) • Does what he/she wants to do • Is amoral • Is totally egocentric in assuming that the world revolves around his/her needs and desires • Has thus no sense of cause-effect • Is typically between the ages of 0-7 BACK

7. Stage 1 At this stage, the individual: • Obeys rules in order to avoid punishment • Determines a sense of right and wrong by what is punished and what is not punished • Obeys superior authority and allows that authority to make the rules, especially if that authority has the power to inflict pain • Is responsive to rules that will affect his/her physical well-being • Is usually over the age of 7 BACK

8. What’s the difference? • If the mind was solely guided by the id, individuals would find it difficult to wait patiently at a restaurant, while feeling hungry, and would most likely grab food off of neighboring tables. The id "knows no judgements of value: no good and evil, no morality.... Instinctual cathexes seeking discharge — that, in our view, is all there is in the id.“-Sigmund Freud

9. What’s the difference? • Ego - it seeks to please the id’s drive in realistic ways that will benefit in the long term rather than bring grief. At the same time, ego must rationalize what the id wants and what is allowed in society. • Toddlers begin this stage, teenagers have more opportunities to practice ego manners and establish the fine line.

10. Stage 2 At this stage, the individual: • Is motivated by vengeance or “an eye for an eye” philosophy • Is self-absorbed while assuming that he/she is generous • Believes in equal sharing in that everyone gets the same, regardless of need • Believes that the end justifies the means • Will do a favor only to get a favor • Expects to be rewarded for every non-selfish deed he/she does • Is usually over the age of 10 BACK

11. Stage 3 At this stage, the individual: • Finds peer approval very important • Makes moral decisions on the basis of what will please a limited group and make the person feel included • Thus models behavior on that of the “majority” which is the behavior of the “in crowd” or peer group • Feels that intentionsare as important as deeds and expects others to accept intentions or promises in place of deeds • Begins to put himself/herself in another’s shoes and think from another perspective • May continue to be in this stage until him/her has reached the 20s in age BACK

12. What’s the difference? • The ego is that part of the id which has been modified by the direct influence of the external world.... The ego represents what may be called reason and common sense, in contrast to the id, which contains the passions ... in its relation to the id it is like a man on horseback, who has to hold in check the superior strength of the horse; with this difference, that the rider tries to do so with his own strength, while the ego uses borrowed forces.“Still worse, "it serves three severe masters ... the external world, the super-ego and the id.“Its task is to find a balance between primitive drives and reality while satisfying the id and super-ego. Its main concern is with the individual's safety and allows some of the id's desires to be expressed, but only when consequences of these actions are marginal. What does this mean? Urges and vices

13. What’s the difference? • "Thus the ego, driven by the id, confined by the super-ego, repulsed by reality, struggles ... [in] bringing about harmony among the forces and influences working in and upon it," and readily "breaks out in anxiety — realistic anxiety regarding the external world, moral anxiety regarding the super-ego, and neurotic anxiety regarding the strength of the passions in the id."It has to do its best to suit all three, thus is constantly feeling hemmed by the danger of causing discontent on two other sides. It is said, however, that the ego seems to be more loyal to the id, preferring to gloss over the finer details of reality to minimize conflicts while pretending to have a regard for reality. But the super-ego is constantly watching every one of the ego's moves and punishes it with feelings of guilt, anxiety, and inferiority. Is this why many people have anxiety issues? What is neurotic anxiety? What does this mean? Learned, not inherent! Desire driven

14. What’s the difference? • Superego - reflects the internalization of cultural rules, mainly taught by parents applying their guidance and influence. • The super-ego works in contradiction to the id. The super-ego strives to act in a socially appropriate manner, whereas the id just wants instant self-gratification. The super-ego controls our sense of right and wrong and guilt. It helps us fit into society by getting us to act in socially acceptable ways. The best YOU, you can be!

15. Stage 4 At this stage, the individual: • Continues past actions and behaviors in tradition since the maintenance of law and order is supremely important • Is a duty doer who believes in rigid rules that should not be changed • Respects authority and obeys it without question • Is part of about 80% of the population that does not progress past stage 4 BACK

16. Stage 5 At this stage, the individual: • Is motivated by the belief in the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people • Believes in contracts in which both parties compromiseand yet both receive benefits • Believes in consensus (everyone agrees), rather than in majority rule • Respects the rights of the minority especially the rights of the individual • Believes that change in the law is possible but only through the system • Has reached the same stage as the official morality of the nation BACK

17. Stage 6 At this stage, the individual: • Loses the ability to compromise high principles and thus may forfeit his/her life in order to uphold them • Believes that there are higher moral principles than those represented by social rules and customs • Obeys these self-chosen high moral principles • Is willing to accept the consequences for disobedience of the social rule he/she has rejected • Uses only passive resistance and has no use for violence in any form • Believes in granting justice and dignity to all human beings as inalienable human rights • Respects justice for its moral nature and its legal nature • Believes that the dignity of humanity is sacred and that all humans have value BACK

18. Stage 7 At this stage, the individual: • Is a “seeker of justice in an unjust world” • Has a cosmic perspective of life • Neglects any consideration for self • Focuses not on the individual but on the whole, a view of self as part of the infinite whole and not as an individual part that is significant • Thus is plagued with despair and sees a world of woe that he/she is inadequate to repair • Possesses an altruism that is difficult for the world to comprehend and consequently his/her forgiveness and compassion often runs afoul of the world’s sense of justice I.e. moral level BACK

20. What is the majority of Professor Sharp’s Gifted Youngsters? Id, Ego, Superego? • This test will use hypothetical situations to try and see if you are a balanced person, or if one part of your subconscious is dominating your brain. • What is your prediction (hypothesis) the majority will be? • Login to JCPS Online • Lessons tab • “Id, Ego, Superego Test”

21. Science method • Question: What is the majority of Professor Sharp’s Gifted Youngsters? Id, Ego, Superego? • Hypothesis: ?? • Procedure: Write what you do today and what the class is doing to find out the answer. • Analyze data: • Conclusion: