Socialization

Socialization

Introduction

Socialization is considered to be a process of disseminating and inheriting customs, norms as well as ideologies. This process is a long term process and it teaches people on the necessary abilities and skills required in the participation with the society (Clausen, J. A. 1968). Various researches conducted by the scientist have shown that the behaviors of the people are affected by both, the genes as well as the social influences. However, genetic studies have highlighted that an individual's environmental interaction with its genotype is very likely to influence its outcomes of the behavior. Socialization aids in shaping the beliefs, identity as well as the personality of an individual. There are various agents of socialization which are considered to pose a great impact on the approaches of an individual. In this paper, only three of these agents of socialization would be referred to. Their impact as well as their effect helps a great deal in continuously changing the behaviors of an individual. These three agents of socialization include the mass media, the family of an individual as well as the school.

Discussion

The family is considered to be one of the most important socialization agents. As an infant, an individual is dependent upon the teachings of the others. Various theorists argue that the surroundings of a child in its early life majorly affect the process of socialization. The approaches taken may not be intentional; however they do pose a significant effect. The family is the most prior source of teaching the children about various attitudes as well as the cultural values which are associated with an individual. The environment which is created by the adults acts as the first step where children learn. The variations and differences in class are also learned by the children at their initial stages of life. They configure on the differences in values as well as the classes in this age (Macionis, J. J. and Gerber, L. M. 2011). The members of the family that effect these behaviors and attitudes may include the parents, siblings, grandparents and even the members of an extended family. These all contribute in teaching an infant the unending array of ideas as well as objects.

Family may effect an individual's process of socialization through its teaching. The children observe the family members and tend to follow in their footsteps, whether intentionally or unintentionally. the values and beliefs as well as certain reactions and responses are adopted from our family members. This effects our approach of interacting woth other people, when we socialize. It is however important to note that a family does not socialize the children in emptiness and space. There are various social factors which end up effecting how a family raises its children. If we analyze the socialization process sixty years back and if we do it today, there is considered to be a major difference. For example, some 60 years back, it would have been considered as a normal behavior if a father hits his son using a belt ...