Socialization: Understanding the Who and How

Introduction

• Commonality: Everyone watching and a toddler, kids in The Breakfast Club, and soldiers in boot camp are being socialized.
• Definition: Socialization is the social process through which we develop our personalities and learn about our society.
• Importance: It shapes how we act and what we value.

Process of Socialization

1. Family:

   • Primary Socialization: First experiences with language, values, beliefs, behaviors, and norms.
   • Cultural Capital: Assets from family that help in succeeding in the world (e.g., reading habits).
   • Gender Socialization: Traits associated with one's sex; starts with gendered names and conceptions of roles.
   • Race & Class Socialization: Learning values and behaviors based on racial groups and social class norms.

2. Anticipatory Socialization:

   • Learning the values and standards of groups one plans to join (e.g., children learning adult roles).
   • Examples: Teaching boys to be men and girls to be women.

3. Secondary Socialization:

   • Schools: Introduction to bureaucracies and external societal rules.
   • Hidden Curriculum: Norms, values, beliefs taught indirectly (e.g., importance of competition in spelling bees).
   • Exposure to diversity in race, class, religion, and more.
   • Peer Groups: Groups influencing social traits and behaviors.
     • Example: Coleman’s study showed that peer groups influence academic performance and social behavior.

4. Media:

   • Powerful part of socialization via TV, internet, etc.
   • Affected by social traits (e.g., class, race, age).
   • Influence: Can affect attitudes and behaviors (e.g., Sesame Street promoting racial harmony).

5. Total Institutions:

   • Places where people are completely cut off, with strict behavior rules (e.g., military, prisons).
   • Resocialization: Breaking down existing identity and building a new one using rewards and punishments.

Conclusion

• Socialization is a life-long process influenced by family, schools, peers, media, and institutions.
• Reflect on who has influenced your socialization and whom you have influenced.