The process by which individuals internalize the values, beliefs and norms of a given society and learn to function as members of that society.
A.W. Green opines, “
Socialization
is the process by which the child acquires a cultural content, along with selfhood and personality”. According to Horton and Hunt “Socialization is the process by which one internalizes the norms of his groups, so that a distinct “self” emerges, unique to this individual.
Socialization is the
lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating norms, customs and ideologies
, providing an individual with the skills and habits necessary for participating within his or her own society. … It is the behavioral patterns reinforced by socializing agents of society.
Types of Socialization. Generally, there are five types of socialization:
primary, secondary, developmental, anticipatory and resocialization
. This type of socialization happens when a child learns the values, norms and behaviors that should be displayed in order to live accordingly to a specific culture.
Social status
, also called status, the relative rank that an individual holds, with attendant rights, duties, and lifestyle, in a social hierarchy based upon honour or prestige.
Interacting with friends and family, being told to obey rules, being rewarded for doing chores, and being taught how to behave in public places
are all examples of socialization that enable a person to function within his or her culture.
The role of socialization is
to acquaint individuals with the norms of a given social group or society
. … Socialization is also important for adults who join new social groups. Broadly defined, it is the process of transferring norms, values, beliefs, and behaviors to future group members.
agents of socialization: Agents of socialization, or institutions that can impress social norms upon an individual, include
the family, religion, peer groups, economic systems, legal systems, penal systems, language, and the media
.
Examples of formal social control include
the government
. The government uses laws and courts to exercise social control. The government tries to protect those following the rules and capture and punish those who do not. Governmental social control goes beyond the legal system.
~
Family
is the first agent of socialization. ~ Mothers and fathers, siblings and grandparents, plus members of an extended family, all teach a child what he or she needs to know. ~ Sociologists recognize that race, social class, religion, and other societal factors play an important role in socialization.
- The Pre-Arrival Stage.
- The Encounter Stage.
- Metamorphosis.
What are three modes of socialization? Socialization occurs through
explicit instruction, conditioning and innovation and role modeling
. In practice, these modes are usually blended.
In the United States, the primary agents of socialization include
the family, the peer group, the school, and the mass media
.
What is my position in society?
Social position is
the position of an individual in a given society and culture
. A given position may belong to many individuals. Social position influences social status. … A position that is deemed the most important to given individual is called central, others are peripheral.
In all of the many social groups that we as individuals belong to, we have a
status and a role to fulfill
. Status is our relative social position within a group, while a role is the part our society expects us to play in a given status. For example, a man may have the status of father in his family.
Social roles are
the part people play as members of a social group
. With each social role you adopt, your behavior changes to fit the expectations both you and others have of that role. … Each social role carries expected behaviors called norms.
