Under socialization theory, external forces create our experi-
ences and our experiences create us. A person’s profile of attributes
thus arises from the profile of social influences that have constructed
the person. Stated in terms of learning processes, socialization the-
ory suggests that we passively learn to be what we are taught to be.
So a person becomes smart if given many opportunities to learn,
abusive if reared amidst abuse, and interested in mechanical activi-
ties if encouraged to engage in them. It suggests that we come to pre-
fer one Holland field of work to others because we are more often
exposed to and reinforced for it.
The expectation from socialization theory is therefore that the
longer we live in the world, the more fully we become the products
of our social circumstances, with different circumstances yielding dif-
ferent products. By this theory, individual differences should become
GOTTFREDSON’S THEORY OF CIRCUMSCRIPTION, COMPROMISE, AND SELF-CREATION 109FIGURE4.5. Mistaken Versus Modern Views of Nature-Nurture
Mistaken socialization theory: Nurture gradually dilutes and replaces early
genetic influence
Genes
TraitsExperience
EnvironmentsTraitsExperienceTraitsExperienceModern nature-nurture partnership theory: Both genes and environments drive
experience, and (increasingly gene-driven) experience consolidates traits
GenesExperienceEnvironmentsTraits Experience Traits Experience Traits