Is Media the Strongest Agent of Socialisation?
The definition of socialisation is the influences where one acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behaviour and social skills appropriate to his or her social position.
Out of the many agents of socialisation three of the most prominent ones would have to be family values, peer groups and media.
Children are like sponges. They absorb information that is being provided. Behaviours that are observed, values that are being taught to them through an older member of the family, usually parents. Values that are being instilled at a tender age usually sticks lifelong with an individual, the ability of being able to discern right from wrong in different scenarios, considerations that are taken when making decisions, behaviours that are assumed in various situations.
Peer groups are made out those who share common interests, age and social disposition. This is how people learn to form relationships with other people out of the family. Peer groups have great persuasion powers to influence or change an individual’s thinking or behaviours which often contradict that of the values that the school and family believe in. It is because in peer groups, there is less judgements and resistance passed in comparison to a family when it comes to a certain way of living. Which can include; the genre of music that you would listen to, the fashion trends that you follow, the kind of reading material that you etc. Out of these three factors that have been listed, the most powerful agent of socialisation would definitely have to be the media. Newspapers, websites, television shows, films, magazines and other aspects have greatly influenced or at the least sway our personal perspective to issues like politics, the understanding of a certain culture or even views on issues like homosexuality, the role of women in society just to name a few.
Print media is one of the more influential forms of reach to the masses as it is easily acquired at low cost, newspapers are
Out of the many agents of socialisation three of the most prominent ones would have to be family values, peer groups and media.
Children are like sponges. They absorb information that is being provided. Behaviours that are observed, values that are being taught to them through an older member of the family, usually parents. Values that are being instilled at a tender age usually sticks lifelong with an individual, the ability of being able to discern right from wrong in different scenarios, considerations that are taken when making decisions, behaviours that are assumed in various situations.
Peer groups are made out those who share common interests, age and social disposition. This is how people learn to form relationships with other people out of the family. Peer groups have great persuasion powers to influence or change an individual’s thinking or behaviours which often contradict that of the values that the school and family believe in. It is because in peer groups, there is less judgements and resistance passed in comparison to a family when it comes to a certain way of living. Which can include; the genre of music that you would listen to, the fashion trends that you follow, the kind of reading material that you etc. Out of these three factors that have been listed, the most powerful agent of socialisation would definitely have to be the media. Newspapers, websites, television shows, films, magazines and other aspects have greatly influenced or at the least sway our personal perspective to issues like politics, the understanding of a certain culture or even views on issues like homosexuality, the role of women in society just to name a few.
Print media is one of the more influential forms of reach to the masses as it is easily acquired at low cost, newspapers are