“Socialization is elaborate; it involves many variable and reciprocal experiences, interaction, and environment that affect children’s development” (Kramer). Family, peers, school, public opinion, mass media, volunteer groups, work and religion each play an important role in socialization and education process of children. Socialization is essential in the process of personality formation. While much of our personality is the result of the genes, the socialization process can shape it in particular directions by encouraging specific attitudes and beliefs, and also providing experiences. The major agents of socialization such as family, peers, school, mass media, public opinion and other apply external pressure on each of us. This is especially true during formation years of kindergarten and high school.
Socialization process creates a system that is naturally unequal with both long-term and short-term implications for academic success of children. The primary group and the first educators are family and friends because they play essential role in transmitting most important values that nurture and encourage learning in a young child. For instance, kids from homes with two parents tend to have stronger probability of personal, professional and academic success.
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Secondary socialization takes place outside of home. School is a place that requires different behavior and where kids act according to the rules. It is place where children learn appropriate behavior as members of groups within our society. School is also a place of formal socializing because it occurs in formal setting of the classroom. It usually is controlled and directed by the teacher. Children are also influenced by informal factors by imitating what others say or do. It occurs when child role plays adult interactions.
“When societal change occurs… socializing agents are affected” (Gonzalez-Mena). The mass media is also a strong socialization agent. Movies, television shows, magazines, popular music all affect our children. However, today the mass media are blamed for youth society’s ills and violence. Nowadays an average kid sees too much acts of violence in the movies and on TV. Therefore, it is essential that the parents understand and realize that children are affected by various factors of the socialization process. “Socialization is unique to human beings” (Berns). Therefore, it’s their strong duty to be on guard and be able to differentiate the bad from the good and encourage the latter.
- Berns, Roberta M. Child, Family, School, Community: Socialization and Support.
Cengage Learning: Wadsworth, 2010. Print. - Gonzalez-Mena, Janet. Child, Family and Community: Family Centered Early Care and Education. Pearson: April 5, 2008. Print.
- Kramer, Laurie and Katherine J. Conqer. Siblings as Agents of Socialization: New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development. Jossey-Bass, 1st edition: December 21, 2009. Print.
