Chapter 10 Enculturation and the Life Cycle

Chapter Outline  Growing Up  Diversity in Child Care  Two African Examples  Life Cycle

Growing Up  Children learn how to think, feel, speak and behave in the context of a social environment.  Even within the same society or family, people are remarkably different.

Aka Child Care  Parents are indulgent toward children and do not worry about spoiling them.  Parents do not enforce their commands, placing a high value on autonomy.  Aka infants have many caregivers.  Aka fathers are very involved with children.

Gusii Child Care  Gusii mothers are diligent caregivers, but do not tend to talk with or play with their children.  Toddlers are cared for by siblings, some who are only 5 or 6 years old.  Mothers assign their older children tasks, but do not instruct or praise them.  Gusii fathers are barely involved in child care.

Life Cycle  Culturally defined age categories through which each person passes between birth and death.  Includes: infancy, childhood, puberty, adulthood and old age.

Some Variations in the Life Cycle StageCross-Cultural Variations Infancy Begins at or after birth. Timing and significance of naming. Childhood Work responsibilities. Care of young siblings. Separation of boys and girls. Adolescence Recognition and elaboration as an age category. Responsibilities and privileges relative to adults. Significance of initiation rituals.

Some Variations in the Life Cycle StageCross-Cultural Variations Adulthood Defined roughly by age or by life events and experiences. Old Age Degree of respect received from younger people. Age of “retirement.” Degree of control over family resources.

Rite of Passage  A public ceremony that marks, recognizes, celebrates, or is believed to actually cause a change in a person and his or her status, usually brought about or related to increasing age.

Initiation Rites  An elaborate set of ceremonies that mark the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Quick Quiz

1. In most societies, a person becomes an adult: a) after an initiation rite b) on achieving economic independence c) after adolescence d) with marriage

ANSWER: d  In most societies, a person becomes an adult with marriage.

2. Stages included in the life cycle: a) Infancy b) Childhood c) Adulthood d) All of the above

Answer: d  The lifecycle includes infancy, childhood, and adulthood.

3. The Gusii are patrilineal, patrilocal and practice: a) “demand sharing” b) “prestige avoidance c) polygyny d) communal nursing

ANSWER: c The Gusii are patrilineal, patrilocal and practice polygyny.