Editing Socialization (section)

== Behaviorism ==
{{See also|Reciprocal socialization}}
[[George Herbert Mead]] (1863–1931) developed a theory of social [[behaviorism]] to explain how social experience develops an individual's self-concept. Mead's central concept is the self: It is composed of self-awareness and [[self-image]]. Mead claimed that the self is not there at birth, rather, it is developed with social experience. Since social experience is the exchange of symbols, people tend to find meaning in every action. Seeking meaning leads us to imagine the intention of others. Understanding intention requires imagining the situation from the other's point of view. In effect, others are a mirror in which we can see ourselves. Charles Horton Cooley (1902-1983) coined the term [[looking glass self]], which means self-image based on how we think others see us. According to Mead, the key to developing the self is learning to take the role of the other. With limited social experience, infants can only develop a sense of identity through imitation. Gradually children learn to take the roles of several others. The final stage is the generalized other, which refers to widespread cultural norms and values we use as a reference for evaluating others.{{sfn|Macionis|Gerber|2010|p=109}}

===Contradictory evidence to behaviorism===
Behaviorism makes claims that when infants are born they lack social experience or self. The social pre-wiring hypothesis, on the other hand, shows proof through a scientific study that [[social behavior]] is partly inherited and can influence infants and also even influence foetuses. Wired to be social means that infants are not taught that they are social beings, but they are born as prepared social beings.

'''The social pre-wiring hypothesis''' refers to the [[ontogeny]] of [[social relation|social interaction]]. Also informally referred to as, "wired to be social". The theory questions whether there is a propensity to [[social actions|socially oriented action]] already present ''before'' birth. Research in the theory concludes that newborns are born into the world with a unique [[genetics|genetic]] wiring to be social.<ref name="Wired">{{cite journal|title=Wired to Be Social: The Ontogeny of Human Interaction|date=7 October 2010|journal=PLOS ONE|volume=5|issue=10|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0013199|pmid=20949058|pmc=2951360|first=Umberto |last=Castiello|display-authors=etal|page=e13199|bibcode=2010PLoSO...513199C|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Circumstantial evidence supporting the social pre-wiring hypothesis can be revealed when examining newborns' behavior. Newborns, not even hours after birth, have been found to display a preparedness for social interaction. This preparedness is expressed in ways such as their imitation of facial gestures. This observed behavior cannot be contributed to any current form of socialization or [[social construction]]. Rather, newborns most likely [[heredity|inherit]] to some extent social behavior and [[identity (social science)|identity]] through genetics.<ref name="Wired"/>

Principal evidence of this theory is uncovered by examining Twin pregnancies. The main argument is, if there are social behaviors that are inherited and developed before birth, then one should expect twin foetuses to engage in some form of social interaction before they are born. Thus, ten foetuses were analyzed over a period of time using ultrasound techniques. Using kinematic analysis, the results of the experiment were that the twin foetuses would interact with each other for longer periods and more often as the pregnancies went on. Researchers were able to conclude that the performance of movements between the co-twins was not accidental but specifically aimed.<ref name="Wired"/>

The social pre-wiring hypothesis was proved correct, "The central advance of this study is the demonstration that 'social actions' are already performed in the second trimester of [[Gestational age (obstetrics)|gestation]]. Starting from the 14th week of gestation twin foetuses plan and execute movements specifically aimed at the co-twin. These findings force us to predate the emergence of social behavior: when the context enables it, as in the case of twin foetuses, other-directed actions are not only possible but predominant over self-directed actions."<ref name="Wired"/>