culture and socialization

Socialization can be defined as the process by which people learn to become members of a society (Tepperman & Curtis, 2011, p.58). Thus, the socialization process of an individual starts from birth and continues throughout life. The period of socialization helps an individual to develop feelings, perceptions, learn the basics of social interaction and also learn to recognize and respond socially to parents and other important people in their lives (Tepperman & Curtis, 2011, p.58). According to Tepperman and Curtis (2011), “Socialization is accomplished by many different variables; including ethnicity, family structure, gender, environment and birth order” (p.58). Socialization perpetuates culture so therefore individuals are affected by socialization and culture in one way or the other. By definition, culture is a set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution, organization, or group (MacNeill, 2012). It is the key to understanding how we relate to each other. There are different types of culture around the world, for example, American culture, Chinese culture, and African culture. Tepperman and Curtis (2011) noted that “Culture is different between places and at different times” (p. 32). Culture consists of a set of principles and traditions which is passed on from one generation to another. Socialization teaches cultural values and norms which provides the guidelines for our everyday life. It is therefore inevitable that socialization influences what we do as humans. This paper will argue that the effects of the principal agents of socialization have led to the continuity of culture. This paper will then discuss some of the attributes of the cultural realms that are connected with the process of socialization. Finally, the essay will conclude with a discussion on the effects of socialization outcomes. The process of socialization starts within the context of the family. The family is considered