Socialization

Socialization is the lifelong process through which we learn the norms and beliefs of our society.
The complex process of socialization takes place through interaction with many individuals,
groups, and social institutions.
● Socialization is critical for children as they develop.
● For society to function, the socialization of individuals is necessary.
● It is the process of learning one’s culture.
● It is an on-going process.
● Socialization can be a process of learning, relearning, and unlearning. Resocialization
refers to the process whereby people learn new rules and norms when entering a new
social world.
● Race, social class, religion and other social factors play an important role in socialization.

Why it matters
Socialization is important because
● It describes the way people understand societal norms and expectations.
● People learn to identify what is important and valued within a culture.
● It helps develop our personalities and a sense of self.

Definitions:
Anderson and Parker define socialization as:
“Socialization is a learning process of development of habits, attitudes and traits that
differentiate individuals from one another.”
According to Macionis,
“Socialization refers to the lifelong social experience by which people develop their human
potential and learn culture”

Types of Socialization
1. Formal and Informal Socialization
Formal socialization takes place in a structured environment, a school for example. In
this environment an organized learning of skills, norms and information takes place.
Informal socialization is the learning that takes place outside of a formal structure. It is
carried out through informal social interactions and relationships at micro-levels.
2. Primary and Secondary Socialization
Primary socialization occurs in infancy and childhood. It is the most intense period of
cultural learning. It is the time when children learn language and basic behavioral patterns
that form the foundation for later learning. The family is the main agent of socialization
during this phase.
Secondary socialization occurs later in childhood and in maturity. In this phase, other
agents of socialization, such as schools, peer groups, organizations, the media, the
workplace, and even religious organizations become socializing forces.
Agents of Socialization
1. Family
● In all societies, the first major agent of socialization for most individuals is the
family. Mothers and fathers, siblings and grandparents, plus members of an
extended family all teach a child what they need to know. For example, they show
the child how to use objects (such as clothes, computers, eating utensils, books,
bikes); how to relate to others (some as “family,” others as “friends,” still others as
“strangers” or “teachers” or “neighbors”); and how the world works (what is
“real” and what is “imagined”).
● Family helps internalize culture and develop a social identity.
● The family also provides an ascribed social status for its young members. Social
class of the family has a distinct effect on patterns of socialization.
● Family has the greatest impact on attitudes and behavior.
● A family’s social position, including race and social class, shapes a child’s
personality.
● Ideas about gender are learned first in the family.
2. Education
● It is a formal process.
● Schools teach knowledge and skills needed for later life.
● Schools expose children to greater social diversity.
● Schools reinforce ideas about gender.
● Students are not only in school to study math, reading, science, and other subjects
— the manifest function of this system. Schools also serve a latent function in
society by socializing children into behaviours like teamwork, following a
schedule, and using textbooks.
● School and classroom reinforce what society expects from children. Sociologists
describe this aspect of schools as the hidden curriculum, the informal teaching
done by schools. When children participate in a relay race or a math contest, they
learn that there are winners and losers in society. When children are required to
work together on a project, they practice teamwork with other people in
cooperative situations. Bowles and Gintis argue that the hidden curriculum
prepares children for a life of conformity in the adult world.
● Schools also socialize children by teaching them about citizenship and
nationalism.

3. Peer Groups
● Peer groups are made up of people who are similar in age and social status and
who share interests.
● Peer group socialization begins in the earliest years like when kids teach younger
children playground rules.
● As teens, peer groups are important to adolescents as they begin to develop an
identity separate from parents and exert their independence. This is often a period
 of parental-child conflict and rebellion as parental values come into conflict with
those of youth peer groups.
● Peer groups provide additional opportunities for socialization since kids engage in
activities with peers that are different from those with family members. Peer
groups provide adolescents’ first major socialization experience outside the realm
of their families. They are especially influential with respect to preferences in
music, style, clothing, etc., sharing common social activities. With peers,
adolescents experiment with new experiences outside the control of parents.
● Peer group interactions have changed over time with technological advances and
provide adolescents their first major socialization experience outside the realm of
their families.

4. Mass Media
● Mass media distribute impersonal information to a wide audience, via television,
newspapers, and the Internet.
● The mass media are another agent of socialization. Television shows, movies,
popular music, magazines, Web sites, and other aspects of the mass media
influence our political views; our tastes in popular culture; our views of women,
people of color, and gays; and many other beliefs and practices.
● Media greatly influences social norms.
● People learn about objects of material culture (like new technology,
transportation, and consumer options), as well as nonmaterial culture—what is
true (beliefs), what is important (values), and what is expected (norms).
● The mass media is often blamed for youth violence and many other of our
society’s ills such as acts of violence on television, racial and gender stereotypes,
commercials can greatly influence our choice of soda, shoes, and countless other
products.