Socialization

Socialization
What happens in socialization is that the social world is
internalized within the child. The same process, though perhaps
weaker in quality, occurs every time the adult is initiated into a
new social context or a new social group. Society, then, is not
only something “out there,” in the Durkheimian sense, but it is
also “in here,” part of our innermost being.

© Copyright 2010 Alan S. Berger 2

What have you learned from your family? Consider...

Attitudes: a state of mind or a disposition: attitude

towards something...

Beliefs: the basic understandings you hold; may be

religious

Norms: expected patterns of behaviour with in a

specific group of individuals

Values: principles which are important to you;

intangibles
What have you learned from the educational system?
What have you learned from your peer group?
Consider both positive and negative influences.
What have you learned from the media?
What have you learned from other sources: church,
organized sports, etc.?
A Definition…
the lifelong process by which people acquire attitudes,
beliefs, and behaviour patterns expected of a specific
society
Agencies of Socialization
1. The Family
the primary agent of socialization
first & longest lasting agent
gives a child his identity, status
provides role models for acceptable behaviour
passes on norms, values, traditions
teaches sex roles
2. The School
a secondary agent of socialization
organizes social relationships
prepares child for adult life through occupation
preparation
teaches norms, society behaviour, values
(democracy, fairness, patience, cooperation, etc)
1st time you were under control of an adult other than a
parent.
Teacher kind but not affectionate in same way
as parents
Teacher enforced rules impartially and did not
allow the kind of exceptions to them that
parents might.
Rules not negotiated
Some children soon discovered, received more
than others = rewards, and prizes or more
attention for undesirable behaviour
Therefore classroom was an unequal place
despite teachers efforts
3. The Peer Group
a secondary agent
provides a reference group for children
the setting for children to develop close
relationships with others
opportunities to experience independence & social
skills
1) they serve as a reference group
2) teach or socialize individuals about how
to share, handle conflict, participate in
activities with others, measure one’s
physical social and mental abilities
3) 3) support a young person when dealing
with adult authority
4. The Media
a secondary agent
teaches functions of society, norms, values, ideals
(both positive & negative)
5. Others
secondary agents
includes church, community agencies, athletic teams,
daycare centre, etc
Issues in Socialization
1. It is believed that children are active participants in
their own socialization (they are not passive
recipients)
- the process is interactive as a result of
environmental stimulation opportunities
2. Socialization is a two-way process; as
the caregivers are socializing the child, the child is
also socializing the caregivers
- this is a process of mutuality
3. Socialization is a lifelong process
- primary socialization is more focussed during
childhood & adolescence
- primary socialization lays the foundation for later
learning but does not entirely prepare individuals
for adulthood
4. Adolescent Socialization
teen years are often considered a time of ‘crisis’
a period of tension between the dependence of the
past & the anticipated independence of the future
- becoming less oriented to parents & more oriented
to peers & other adults
6. Gender Socialization
definition - the processes by which people learn to be
masculine or feminine according to the expectations
current in their society
sex-role stereotyping may begin even before birth
from birth, boys & girls are handled differently
boys: jostled with, played with more roughly,
handled more as an infant, punished more, have
more freedom, not encouraged to be effeminate
girls: cuddled, talked to more, punished with
more gentle reprimands, encouraged to be neat,
obedient, feminine, quieter, passive, controlled
by 3 years of age, children understand that they are
boy/girl; show preferences toward gender
supported & reinforced by parents’ choice of toys
Socialization and the Life Cycle
 Socialization throughout The life cycle
 Socialization is a continuing, life-long process. All
societies have to deal with the life cycle that begins with
conception and ends with death.
 Role socialization involves anticipatory socialization,
altering roles, and exiting from roles.
 The life cycle consists of childhood, adolescence, young
adulthood, middle adulthood, later adulthood, and death
 Americans are grappling with the issue of euthanasia, and
the hospice movement provides a more humane approach
to the dying experience.

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Stages of socialization
Oral stage : Zero to one and half year.
Anal stage : one and half year to 4 years.
Latency stage : Starts from 4 upto the age of
12.
Adolescence stage : from 14 to 19 , teenage
period.