Agents of Socialisation
Agents of Socialisation
Introduction
Socialization is used by psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, educationalists and anthropologists to denote the constant process of acquiring and disseminating customs, ideologies and norms, giving a person the habits and skills that are needed for participation in a particular community or a group. It is an amalgamation of self-imposed as well as externally enforced rules and anticipations of other individuals in the society. Contrasting other species whose behaviours are biologically developed, human beings require social experiences in order to survive and to learn about their culture. Even though cultural differences are noticeable in the customs, behaviours and actions of entire social groups, the uppermost basic articulation of culture is seen at the personal level. The articulation can exclusively be acquired after an individual socializes with his family and external social networks, which represent socialization agents. People who act as socialization’s agents include relatives, friends, teachers, employers, religious leaders, as well as fictional characters which people read about in books or see in the media (Berns, p.46). Determining how the 3 agents of socialisation; peer group, work and mass media contribute to a person’s beliefs, sense of life, values and view, and also any inherent blinds spots they might have.
Peer group
According to Mead (p.128), a peer group consists of individuals who are similar in age, social status and share common interests. Socialization within peer groups begins in the early years of the human growth process for instance when children in a playground educate each other on norms relating to the rules of the game, taking turns or shooting a basket. The socialization process continues as kids mature into teenagers. Peer groups play an integral role in teenagers life’s in many different ways. They start to develop identities which are totally different from those of
Introduction
Socialization is used by psychologists, sociologists, political scientists, educationalists and anthropologists to denote the constant process of acquiring and disseminating customs, ideologies and norms, giving a person the habits and skills that are needed for participation in a particular community or a group. It is an amalgamation of self-imposed as well as externally enforced rules and anticipations of other individuals in the society. Contrasting other species whose behaviours are biologically developed, human beings require social experiences in order to survive and to learn about their culture. Even though cultural differences are noticeable in the customs, behaviours and actions of entire social groups, the uppermost basic articulation of culture is seen at the personal level. The articulation can exclusively be acquired after an individual socializes with his family and external social networks, which represent socialization agents. People who act as socialization’s agents include relatives, friends, teachers, employers, religious leaders, as well as fictional characters which people read about in books or see in the media (Berns, p.46). Determining how the 3 agents of socialisation; peer group, work and mass media contribute to a person’s beliefs, sense of life, values and view, and also any inherent blinds spots they might have.
Peer group
According to Mead (p.128), a peer group consists of individuals who are similar in age, social status and share common interests. Socialization within peer groups begins in the early years of the human growth process for instance when children in a playground educate each other on norms relating to the rules of the game, taking turns or shooting a basket. The socialization process continues as kids mature into teenagers. Peer groups play an integral role in teenagers life’s in many different ways. They start to develop identities which are totally different from those of
Cited: Andersen, Margaret L and Howard Francis Taylor. Sociology: understanding a diverse society. Belmont: Thomson Learning, 2008. Berns, Roberta. Child, family, school, community: socialization and support. Belmont: Cengage Learning, 2010. Brinkerhoff, David B. Essentials of sociology. Belmont: Wadsworth, 2008. Ferrante-Wallace, Joan. Sociology: a global perspective. New York: Routledge, 2011. Kohn, Melvin L. Class and Conformity: A Study in Values. Homewood: Dorsey Press, 2007. Mead, G. H. Mind, self, and society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2004. Rosengren, Karl. Media Effects and Beyond: Culture, Socialisation and Lifestyles. London: Routledge, 2004.