Running head: AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION

Why is Family Considered the Most Important Agent of Socialization?

Name

Institution
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Why is family considered the most important agent of socialization?

Socialization is a very important part of humanity as it helps people to master the skills

needed to function optimally in their social world (Mustaeva, 2014). According to Bales &

Parsons (2014), agents such as family and peer groups empower individuals with social

expectations and strengthen social norms. Through these groups, people learn beliefs and values.

Moreover, these social agents are vital in teaching the use of the various material cultures present

in the society. This essay discusses reasons as to why family is the most important agent of

socialization (Bales & Parsons, 2014).

Mustaeva (2014) argues that families are the first agents of socialization that children

encounter in their lives. As such, the family introduces children to their native beliefs, values,

and norms. Basic aspects of living such as feeding and cleaning are learned from the family.

Moreover, young people learn important virtues such as trust and autonomy from their parents at

a tender age. Additionally, people learn how to navigate through various social challenges from

their parents and guardians. Therefore, children get exposed to diverse competencies necessary

for survival (Mustaeva, 2014).

Children interact with their families before getting to their schooling age. A such, the

things that parents tell their children have a profound impact in their later lives. Psychologists

argue that children learn more effectively through observation (Mustaeva, 2014). Therefore,

young people copy their parents' behaviors such as dressing styles and embrace them during their

adulthood. Further, parents are known to influence the manner in which their children treat the

issue of race and racial discrimination. For example, in America, black children are prepared

early in life to expect racial discrimination in their later lives and equipped with tactics of
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copying with this issue. The perspective used by children to view other races is therefore

influenced by their primary caregivers (Bales & Parsons, 2014).

From the foregoing assertions, it is evident that family is the most important agent of

socialization. As pointed out, the family is the first agent of socialization children encounter. As

such, young people learn important virtues including feeding, dressing, racial perspectives,

cleaning, social survival tactics, beliefs, values, and norms from their families.
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References

Bales, R. F., & Parsons, T. (2014). Family: Socialization and interaction process. Routledge.

Mustaeva, F. A. (2014). A Family as an Agent of Socialization. In International

Multidisciplinary Scientific Conferences on Social Sciences and Arts. 3-9 September

(Vol. 11, p. 125).