Socialization
What is Socialization
Socialization is an integral part of the process every human being, regardless of gender, culture or geographical location, goes through from childhood through adulthood. It is a never-ending process. But it is especially important during the formative years of a person’s life. In brief, socialization can be described as the process by which an individual acquires his or her own personal identity. He or she learns the values, norms, social behavioral patterns and social skills needed to integrate in and become a functioning member of their particular society.
What are The Major Agents of Socialization?
From this simplified definition it can be seen that any attempt to define a set of factors or agents that contribute to the socialization process must differ from culture to culture. However, despite the differences inherent in unique cultures, a number of socialization factors are common to all cultures or have a similar equivalent.
In Western industrial societies, by way of example, it is generally accepted that their are four central agents of socialization. Some researchers claim that there are actually 10 primary socialization agents. The proponents of the four agent model hold that the additional agents are but subsets of the four main socialization agents.
Family: The Primary Social Group That Teaches Socialization
The family is the first social group that one comes into contact with and from which the individual learns the basic values of living in a family orientated society. Within this grouping many vital social lessons and skills are learned that are essential if the individual is to develop and find a place in society. These include language skills, physical control of one’s body, recognition and control of emotions, accepted behavioral patterns both in the home and the outside environment, and moral and ethical values.
Additional skills and lessons learned in the family include the ability to bond with and
Socialization is an integral part of the process every human being, regardless of gender, culture or geographical location, goes through from childhood through adulthood. It is a never-ending process. But it is especially important during the formative years of a person’s life. In brief, socialization can be described as the process by which an individual acquires his or her own personal identity. He or she learns the values, norms, social behavioral patterns and social skills needed to integrate in and become a functioning member of their particular society.
What are The Major Agents of Socialization?
From this simplified definition it can be seen that any attempt to define a set of factors or agents that contribute to the socialization process must differ from culture to culture. However, despite the differences inherent in unique cultures, a number of socialization factors are common to all cultures or have a similar equivalent.
In Western industrial societies, by way of example, it is generally accepted that their are four central agents of socialization. Some researchers claim that there are actually 10 primary socialization agents. The proponents of the four agent model hold that the additional agents are but subsets of the four main socialization agents.
Family: The Primary Social Group That Teaches Socialization
The family is the first social group that one comes into contact with and from which the individual learns the basic values of living in a family orientated society. Within this grouping many vital social lessons and skills are learned that are essential if the individual is to develop and find a place in society. These include language skills, physical control of one’s body, recognition and control of emotions, accepted behavioral patterns both in the home and the outside environment, and moral and ethical values.
Additional skills and lessons learned in the family include the ability to bond with and