We as a human race have become a byproduct of our society. Through media, technology and social pressure, humans no longer run society, but we seem to be run by society. Sociologist Peter Berger's quote states: "Not only do people live in society, but society lives in them." This statement refers to a form of social control in which groups and people in those groups conform to society partly consciously and partly as a reflection based on dominant social expectations. As I further explain Berger's statement, I will explain how individuality, identity, and freedom fit into such a predetermined future. Although identity suggests an aspect of individuality, it is actually the result of socialization. Identity is how we see ourselves and socialization is “the process by which people learn society's expectations” (Anderson, 74). Identity therefore becomes a product of socialization. A person might develop multiple identities that depend on the social situation they find themselves in. A person may identify as one thing in their home environment, but that identity might change once in a professional or educational environment. Identity is an aspect of an individual but is based on learned expectations from society. As Berger's statement suggests, humans not only simply live in society, but society now sets the structure of what we will be like. As much as we would like to consider ourselves totally independent, without our family, our peers, language, culture and larger institutions that suggest ways of living, we would not have the foundation to build an identity. Individuality is defined as the “total peculiar character” and distinguishing an individual from others," (Britannica) meaning... in the center of the sheet... Berger's quote, "Not only do people live in society but society lives in them" is a poignant look at our society. Even though we created our society and like to believe we are its rulers, ultimately society and our peer pressures have a greater impact on our lives and identities than we as individuals on our own. The media and the continuous development of technology shape and change what we buy, how we look and how we interact with each other and with other societies. As long as a mainstream society exists, we will always have social controls and pressures to keep it moving smoothly. Works Cited Anderson, Margaret L. and Taylor, Howard F. Sociology: The Essential. 28 May. 2011. Encyclopedia Britannica “freedom”. 2011.britannica.com. Network. May 28. 2011.