Sociology: Socialization and Social Structure

Socialization

• Socialization is a lifelong process by which we learn the necessary norms and values to better function and integrate ourselves within society.
• It is a means to be fully human and enculturates us to genuinely become part of our society's or community's culture.

Norms, Values, Status, and Roles

• Through socialization, we gain norms (unwritten behaviors and rules that govern our society), values (standards to determine what is good or bad), status (designation that individuals occupy), and roles (behaviors expected of individuals that fit their status within society).
• Types of norms include laws (formally written rules), folkways (norms without moral values), mores (norms that regulate ethical behavior), and taboo (forbidden acts).

Agents of Socialization

• The five agents of socialization are:
  • Family (the cornerstone of human interaction, imparts knowledge and skills needed to be fully functioning members of society)
  • Schools (impart knowledge and skills, shapes values and culture through explicit and implicit curricula)
  • Peers (shapes preferences, values, and beliefs, provides socioemotional support, but can be negatively influenced by peer pressure)
  • Mass Media (shapes tastes, preferences, beliefs, and opinions, creates and enforces stereotypes)
  • Religion (fundamentally influences views, values, and perspectives across different subjects)

Socialization, Enculturation, and Acculturation

• Socialization is a lifelong process by which people learn values, norms, and expectations to be integrated into society.
• Enculturation is a process wherein one becomes part of their culture by learning it, involving learning beliefs, customs, traditions, practices, and expressions that define a culture.
• Acculturation refers to a process by which one adopts/learns another culture.
• Socialization is focused on the individual, while enculturation is concerned with culture as a whole.

Socialization Practices and Improving Society

• Socialization's influence is enough that much of what we experience is acquired throughout our lives from the people we've interacted with.
• Broad social factors exert a critical impact on how we live our lives.
• Understanding socialization is crucial to better understand our society's problems.