What is Socialization

People are introduced to societal traditions through the process of socialization. This process
assists individuals in functioning successfully in society, which in turn aids the smooth operation
of society. In a person's socialization, family members, teachers, religious leaders, and peers all
play a part. The term "socialization" refers to the interactional process by which a developing
individual learns the habits, attitudes, values, and beliefs of the social group into which he was
born.

Agents of Socialization

The Family: Almost every child is raised by parental, adoptive, or foster parents who teach
them how to care for themselves and connect with the world. Family is usually the most
influential agent of socialization out of all the examples. In a family situation, socialization can
be both intentional and unintentional. Deliberate: Activities that are done with the intention of
socialization. For example, a parent may educate his children the significance of telling the
truth. Unintentional: Can have a greater impact on youngsters than conscious socialization
efforts. A father, for example, teaches the significance of being nice. The child, on the other
hand, sees his father being rude. Is the youngster likely to believe what the father says or to do
what the father says?

The School: The school is the second most significant socializing agent for children. Of
course, school's declared mission is to convey subject knowledge and teach life skills like
following directions and meeting deadlines. Students, on the other hand, do not solely learn from
the academic curriculum created by teachers and administrators. We develop social skills in
school by interacting with instructors, staff, and other students. For example, Alexander a young
student like other students, may pick up on things from his teacher that she didn't plan to convey.
For example, he might learn that yelling an answer is preferable to raising his hand. When he
does, the teacher pays him special attention and rarely punishes him.

The Peer Group: As children grow older, they are increasingly influenced by forces outside
the home. Children begin to form closer bonds with their peers. Peer groups have a particularly
strong influence during the pre-adolescent and early adolescent years. In the lives of young
people, gaining peer approval is a tremendous force. Young people willingly adopt the peer
group's values and standards in order to get acceptability. Young individuals frequently mold
themselves into the type of person they believe the group desires.

Mass Media: Television, the Internet, radio, magazines, books, and other forms of mass
media are all examples of mass media. It is becoming a more essential socializing agent in the
lives of many people, but it may have a greater impact on children's life. For example, Children
watch movies and by seeing the movie they may adopt some positive or negative quality of their
favorite character.
Religious Organization: The process by which a person learns and internalizes religious
beliefs, attitudes, values, and actions is known as religious socialization. For example, Children
raised in religious homes, for example, are more likely to be religious in their adult life. They are
also more likely to instill religion in their children and to take part in religious activities such as
baptisms and weddings.

Types of Socialization

1. Primary Socialization: This sort of socialization relates to a child's early or basic

years of development. An infant learns cognitive abilities and language in elementary
school and begins to grasp and absorb set values and standards. He also learns to
comprehend and learn a particular grouping in order to be molded as a social participant
in that group later on. Remember that a baby can't tell the difference between good and
wrong. Through indirect and direct observation, he progressively learns to distinguish it.
With time, societal ideals and standards become ingrained in his mentality.

2. Secondary Socialization: The teachings that a growing child learns outside of his
immediate family are referred to as this form of socialization. From his interactions with
his peers and his school experiences, he gains valuable knowledge. The secondary is one
that continues outside and beyond the family environment for the remainder of his life
through social training gained in formal settings.

3. Developmental socialization: A person's social skills are developed during this

period. The individual is intent on attaining the highest levels of social development
possible. Through trial and error, a person enhances his or her socialization level by
applying skills in society. A person can select which abilities they will require, which
skills must be deleted, and which skills will be developed for a long time through
developmental socialization

4. Anticipatory Socialization: Anticipatory socialization, as the name implies, is the

process by which people learn about a group's culture, values, and customs in preparation
for entering that group. He is taught how to act in his new capacity here. A person learns
how to perform in his new role as he learns the correct beliefs, values, and norms of the
status or group to which he aspires.

5. Re-socialization: As part of a life change, re-socialization refers to the act of

abandoning old behavior patterns and accepting new ones. When a social role is
drastically altered, this type of re-socialization occurs. It entails the rejection of one way
of life in favor of another that is not only dissimilar but also incompatible with the
former. When a criminal gets rehabilitated, for example, he must drastically alter his role.