socialization and its agents

Q. 1 Define socialization and explain agencies of socialization?

“Socialization is a process by which the biological man is made social through socio-cultural influence around him”

Or

“The process of inducting an individual into the social world”

Or

“The means by which social and cultural continuity are attained in a society”

Or

Socialization is a process whereby individuals are made aware of behaviours that are expected of them with regards to the norms, beliefs, attitudes, and values of the society in which they live.”

There are two kinds of socialization which are informal socialization (socialization by direct contact from family, parents, playmates and books) and formal socialization (socialization by indirect contact in schools and clubs).

Agencies of socialization:-

 

1.      Family:-

Ø  Family is the place where a newly born child learns the ABC of socialization. The most important agent of socialization, family helps mould an individual.

Ø   Here, he learns the values of society, beliefs, language, religious inclinations and political views shape an individual's outlook towards society.

Ø  Parents are the most influencing people in an individual’s life. They teach him manners and language which is bridge between the individual and society. In short, family is responsible for making socially and culturally civilised people.

2.      Schools:-

Ø  School is one of the basic forms of formal education. It is the second most important agent of socialization after family because it is the place where a child meets different kinds of children and learns to make out the right and wrong in society.

Ø  Schools help pass on knowledge, create awareness and inculcate the feelings of tolerance in individuals. In schools an individual learns morality, nationalism, patriotism, ideology and also adopts norms habits and customs of society.

3.      Peer groups:-

Ø  Meeting likeminded people, making friends and hanging out together may seem like a teenager’s life. But in fact, each and every individual in society loves to have social contact.

Ø  Peer group or play group is the group of friends where every individual is influenced by the whole group. Peers have great impact on an individual's thoughts and line of thinking.

Ø  An individual learns to behave in a manner that they think will be acceptable to their peers. Peer acceptance is an important part of socialization.

4.      Religion:-

Ø  It is also an important factor in making a socially civilised person.

Ø   It gives us the set of boundaries and limitations under which an individual works and is called religiously bound. He is told what to eat and what to drink too. He is thus told how to behave in a society, work with people and also co-operate with them.

Ø  Religion gives practices and performs a vital role in socialization of a person. In this respect, religion has its own set of norms, values, and objectives that regulate the conduct of its members.

5.      Government:-

Ø  The government plays a vital role in socializing an individual because it provides the law and rules in a state where the citizen must abide them else he will fall in disobedience to the state.

Ø  These laws restrict him in doing bad and some laws promote him in doing well. Such as punishment for theft, robbery and killing and reward for good deeds.

6.      Media:-

Ø  They play a powerful role in the process of socialization because through these means people easily learn new ideas, attitudes, fashions, trends etc.

Ø   The mass media are another agent of socialization. Television shows, movies, popular music, magazines, Web sites, and other aspects of the mass media influence our political views; our tastes in popular culture; our views of women, people of color, and gays; and many other beliefs and practices.

Ø  They are a source of social power and social cohesion. They inform, entertain and educate the people. They influence their lifestyles.

7.      Work and Community:-

Ø  Community and culture help pass on the religious views and cultural traditions in an individual.

Ø  A community is the group where an individual meets people with similar ideologies and interact for personal and community growth.

Ø  Work is the place where a person earns his lively hood and thus interacts with the people he works with. He not only seeks guidance but also knows his limits at this work place.

Ø  Community includes Mosque, clubs, political parties, offices, seminars and discussions, hotels and marriage, in short every get together.

8.      Ethnic background:-

Ø  Ethnic background is basically referred to as the identification of an individual in a society.

Ø  This as an agent of socialization works same as the agent of family because it gives us our society values, norms, customs and traditions. Those customs which our societies have been doing for decades and are known for their ethnic group.

Ø  They act as a medium or set of traditions ready to socialize and civilise an individual.

Q. 2 Define culture and explain it with respect to society?

“The totality of socially transmitted behaviour patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought.”

Or

“The predominating attitudes and behaviour that characterize the functioning of a group or organization”

Or

“These patterns, traits, and products considered as the expression of a particular period, class, community, or population”

Culture is the way of life of a social group, the group's total man made environment including all the material and nonmaterial products of group life that are transmitted from one generation to the next. Culture is dependent upon many factors and elements. The basic of them is that every nation explicit their own culture and culture is known to them as their way of living, practising worship, working, dealing with people etc. Every area has its own culture with respect to the people living there. Culture also has a direct influence on it from mass media and other agencies of socialization.