Enculturation/Socialization: Identity Formation (Identities, Disciplines, and Aspirations)

Enculturation and Socialization

What is the difference between socialization and enculturation? How is enculturation related to socialization?Society is different from
culture. There are many cultures within a society. While members of society share many of the same expectations and experiences, the
cultural groups create ones that differentiate them from others in society.

Enculturation is the process by which an individual adopts the behavior patterns of the culture in which a person is immersed
Socialization is the process through which people learn to understand the societal norms, expectations and values as members of
society.
Study the chart that further explains the differences and relationships of socialization and enculturation.

Identity Formation
Identity formation starts when one learns to socialize and be aware of the culture, behaviors, language, morals, and norms of where
he or she belongs in. However, as a person grows, he or she learns to make his or her own set of beliefs, values, and morals. This is
how a person develops an identity. This is what makes a person different from others.

Identity
Identity is what makes a person distinct from others. It is the total knowledge and understanding of an individual about who he or she
is.

Types of Identity

1. Personal

 the concept an individual develops about himself or herself

 the sense of oneself as a distinct or unique individual
 may depend on the age and circumstances of a person

Example: Rolen is an African girl. She is the most quiet student in her class. She believes that time is gold, so spends her free time
studying her lessons.

2. Cultural

 the identity of the culture to which a person belongs in

 the feeling or sense of belongingness to a group
 a collective sense of companionship that involves the same beliefs, interests, and fundamental principles of living

Example: In the Philippines, the Agta tribe has been practicing a unique culture for centuries. Old men wear the bahag, a unique style
of clothing. They prefer to stay in the forest than to stay in lowlands. They mainly look for natural food sources.
Study the chart that further explains the two types of identity.

Discipline

 a way of behaving that expresses a willingness to obey rules or laws

 behavior that is judged by how well a person follows a set of rules or orders

Kinds of Discipline
Discipline is categorized into different types.

1. Discipline of Nature or Reality

A person meets this kind of control every time he or she tries to do something. A person learns to do things on his or her own without
the supervision of others.

Example: Ryan rented a bicycle near his town. He does not know yet how to ride the bike. He fell many times, but he did not stop
trying. He was so motivated to learn how to ride the bike that he tried to learn on his own, and eventually, he was able to ride it.

2. Discipline of Culture or Society

What this discipline instills in every culture is distinct, different, and unique. A person learns according to what he sees in his society or
his culture.

Example: Mika wears the trendiest dresses these days. She wears them so she can be “in” with the latest social trends.

3. Discipline of Superior Force

This discipline is the opposite of the discipline of nature or reality. In this training, a person learns through supervision and guidance.

Example: A single mother raised Patricia. Her mother always reminded her not to fall in love because of her personal idea that men are
cheaters. Even if Patricia does not know how it feels to be brokenhearted, she does not entertain any suitor.

Development of Personal Identity and Aspirations

Personal identity develops in many ways, depending on preferred directions.

 It may be through enculturation and socialization.

 It may also come through observation of a role model.
 You tend to imitate a successful person that leads to changes in personality.
 Your personal identity may change and eventually, you may develop a clear sense of yourself.

Aspiration is a strong desire and ambition with which someone is motivated to work hard.

Example: Rico at 20 years old identified himself as a happy-go-lucky guy. He might discover that, at 35 years old, he is a different
person. Perhaps he is living a good life with his family. He would like his children to have a comfortable life in the future.
Enculturation/Socialization: Norms and Values

For society to function well, it must be guided by cultural principles of behavior to maintain stability, peace, and harmony. Every society
has its set of accepted norms and values of its culture that is socially accepted.

Norms
Norms are standards or sets of accepted behaviors that a person is expected to follow or exemplify in the society where he or she
belongs in. It pertains to specific guidelines of conduct in society that guides its members on how to act in particular situations.

Classification of Norms
Norms can be classified in many ways. Norms are either formal or informal.

Norms are also categorized by their relative importance to society. This classification is distinguished from the intensity of feelings they
initiate and the consequences that flow from violations of them.

Folkways
They are the customs of people that came from repetition and routines.

Examples: the practice of waiting in line,courtesy to older people

Mores

 stricter than folkways

 determines what is the moral and ethical behavior
 dictates what is right and wrong

Examples: religious doctrines such as the prohibition of pre-marital sex, the belief that forms of discrimination and suppression are
unethical (e.g.racism and sexism)

Taboos

 very strong negative norms

 strict prohibition of certain behaviors that society holds firmly
 violating it results in extreme disgust or expulsion from the group or society

Examples: cannibalism, incest

Laws

 formally instituted by the government

 exist because its violation can result in injury or harm to other members of society
 impose sanction on people who disobey the authority

Examples: curfews for minors,laws against domestic violence

Values
It refers to the abstract idea of people about what is necessary or worthwhile. Values are general guidelines that are fundamental parts
of our lives. They stand for the things we believe in. Most of the values we have are learned from family, friends, school, media, and
other sources in society.
Classification of Values
Values can be classified into two types.

1. Individual Values

These values are those that are connected with the development of human personality.

Examples: honesty, loyalty, honor

2. Collective Values

These values are those that are connected with the development of unity in the community or society.

Examples: equality, justice, solidarity

Relationship Between Norms and Values

Here are some significant relationships between norms and values.

Functions of Social Norms and Values

Values are general guidelines which govern our daily behavior. They are the guidelines for our judgments, thereby playing a vital role in
the maintenance of stability and harmony in society.

Norms are specific guidelines which allow us to function or act appropriately in society. They are a set of behaviors that is perceived to
be acceptable to its members. Following norms results in social order and gives a feeling of security, safety, and harmony.

Social norms and values perform the following primary functions:

Enculturation/Socialization: Statuses and Roles
Statuses
Our society is guided by a network of similar statuses and roles that govern human interactions that we call social structure. It also
refers to the manner in which society is arranged into predictable interactions.

Status

 describes the position an individual occupies in a particular setting, in a group, or in society

 defines and clarifies the rights and obligations expected from a person

Example: a farm boy, a teacher, a human rights defender

Classifications of Statuses
There are three kinds of statuses.

1. Ascribed Status

 a position a person holds in a social system that one attains involuntarily or by birth
 inherited and not based on the person’s abilities, accomplishments, or efforts
 can be rigid and unchanging since it is given to a person when he is born and is often involuntary

Example: a Filipino national, a male or a female, a king or a queen, a son of a vendor, a firstborn

2. Achieved Status

 a position one holds in a social system that one attains based on merit or effort
 acquired due to unique skills, knowledge, or abilities, and are based on standards that can be controlled
 a position that has been earned or chosen and is mostly dictated by abilities, skills, and life choices

Example: a student, an employee, a doctor, an artist

3. Master Status

 the greatest role in a person’s life that determines social identity and general position in society
 can be based on any status, such as gender, ethnicity, economic status, religious or spiritual tradition, employment status, or
family responsibility such as a parent or grandparent
 may come with a sense of prestige for some−the consensus from the community around them that a status is to be desired

Example: a CEO, an activist, a Pope

The chart shows the differences among the three statuses.

Roles

 expectations that are set for a person given the status he or she occupies
 pertains to the norms, behaviors, values, and personal characteristics that are attached to the status of the person

Examples:

 Status: student

Roles: attending classes, studying lessons, communicating with the teacher

 Status: teacher

Roles: teaching, giving feedback, assessing or evaluating the performance of the students

 Status: call center agent

Roles: answering questions, solving problems, researching information

The chart below shows the different statuses and their corresponding roles.

Role Exit and Role Conflict

What are some issues concerning roles?

Role exit pertains to the course of disengaging a person from his or her role that is essential to his or her self-identity.

Example: when a person retires from a long career and must shift from the role of an employee with responsibilities to someone just
living a comfortable life, or when an individual becomes a parent and has to change their lifestyle.

Role conflict arises when incompatible expectations occur from two or more statuses that a person is occupying. Performing the
assigned role of one status makes it challenging for the person to play the assigned role of another status.

Example: It is very challenging for a woman to be the best mother to her children and the best employee to her company all at the
same time.

The Impact of Statuses and Roles in Attaining Society’s Goals

As members of society, people acquire statuses and roles which are necessary for socializing within their society. These statuses and
roles are important elements in the process of socialization because they serve as agents for the fulfillment of society’s goals.

We are all encouraged to fulfill the roles of the statuses we are occupying at present and in the future stages of our lives for us to be
better members of the community.