Agents of Socialization

Agents of Socialization

are the persons, groups, or institutions that teach us what we need to know in order to participate in society.

The Family

is the most important agent of socialization in all societies.

The function of families is for the procreation and socialization of children, as well as the primary source of emotional support.

Education

The school is the agency responsible for socializing groups of young people in particular skills and values in our society.

The Function of Education

• (1) socialization, or teaching students to be productive members of society; 

• (2) transmission of culture; 

• (3) social control and personal development; and 

• (4) the selection, training, and placement of individuals on different rungs in the society.

Hidden Curriculum

• the process by which children learn to value competition, materialism, work over play

• obedience to authority

• and attentiveness-attributes that are important for later roles in the workforce

Peer Groups

• a group of people who are linked by common interests, equal social position, and (usually) similar age

• function as agents of socialization by contributing to our sense of belonging and our feelings of self-worth.

• Individuals must earn acceptance with their peers by meeting the group's demands for a high level of conformity to its own norms, attitudes, speech, and dress code.

The Mass Media

is an agent of socialization that has a profound impact on both children and adults.

Mass Media reaches large audiences and lacks face to face interaction

The media function as socializing agents in several ways:

• (1) inform us about events;

• (2) introduce us to a wide variety of people;

• (3) provide an array of viewpoints on current issues;

• (4) advertise to consumers

• (5) entertain us

Resocialization

• The process of learning new norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors. 

• By discarding former behavior patterns and accepting new ones as part of a transition in one's life.

• can be intense with the individual experiencing a sharp break with past and the learning and exposure to radically different norms and values.  

• An example would be the experience of a young man or woman leaving home to join the Marines.  

• Radical resocialization occurs in a total institution.

Total Institutions

• A society which is generally cut off from the rest of society but yet still provides for all the needs of its members.

• total institutions have the ability to resocialize people either voluntarily or involuntarily.

• The following would be considered as 

  total institutions: prisons,

   the military, mental hospitals

   and convents

Multiple Choice

Which agent of socialization is considered the most important in all societies?

• family

• education

• peers

• mass media

Multiple Choice

Which agent of socialization teaches us how to conform and prepares us for the workforce?

• family

• education

• peers

• mass media

Multiple Choice

Which agent of socialization has its own norms and attitudes and requires a high level of conformity?

• family

• peers

• mass media

• resocialization

Fill in the Blank

Which agent of socialization lacks face to face interaction