IndexFamily as an agent of socializationPeers as an agent of socializationMass media and formal institutions as an agent of socializationConclusionBibliographySocialization is a process through which people learn the social norms of the society in which they live. This process teaches people to behave in a manner acceptable to society. This facilitates social interaction through the exchange of values, customs, traditions, languages, etc. Municipalities. It develops within a person a sense of belonging with all those with whom he interacted. The agents through which we learn include family, school, peers and the mass media. This article will describe examples such as mass media, peers and family as agents of socialization and explain how we are socialized through formal institutions such as schools and workplaces. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The family as an agent of socialization The family is the first agent of socialization and always will be until death. The parent-child relationship is the first socialized behavioral learning. Children depend on their parents to feed and relieve them, so they turn to their parents when they need assistance. Parents teach the child to care for themselves and others and to have values and beliefs that reflect their social status, religion, ethnic group and more. Every family is different despite belonging to the same society. Some would place more emphasis on education while others would place more emphasis on religion or discipline. The socialization that children receive from their families will not be uniform, however, the family is the foundation of the socialization process. Peers as agents of socialization Peers are those who are the same age and have a similar social identity. From the age of three, children experience peer group influence. Peers ally those in immediate proximity, such as close relatives, neighbors, and daycare friends. With peers, the child begins to broaden his or her circle of influence to people outside of the immediate family. At first the child has to deal with people in superior positions. When a child begins to interact with peers, he or she begins to learn social skills in group situations with social peers. Mass Media and Formal Institutions as Agents of Socialization Mass media conveys a message directly to a large audience at the same time. The influence of mass media includes television, radio, movies, music, books, magazines, newspapers, and the Internet. Because of the influence mass media has on behavior, it serves as an agent of socialization. The influence of media begins when the child begins to watch cartoons and the characters begin to shape the child's perception of socialization. This continues through life through movie characters, singers, and newspaper and magazine advertisements, among others. It is often noticed that a child wants to imitate a superhero. Violent video games can also influence behavior. Schools as an institution are governed by a curriculum and code of conduct and are influenced by the government which has the desired outcome. “The purpose of school is the transmission of culture, the process by which the culture of a society is passed on to its children. Individuals learn their culture; acquire knowledge, beliefs, values and norms” (Saldana, 2013). The school system responds to the needs of society, recently the South African Department of Education wanted to introduce sexual education through life skillsin schools due to the increase in teenage pregnancies. Since the creation of schools, its role as an institution is social control. “An educational system is both a state institution and a partially self-regulating agent or field of socialization. On the one hand, the education system is one of the most easily and quickly controllable institutions that should help implement state policy and spread the appropriate ideology.” Students spend approximately six hours a day in a classroom setting; this is a huge amount of time that produces the most influences on students. The classroom has two contexts in which socialization occurs. The first is determined by the textbook and the cognitive objectives of the teaching process. The second is informally determined by students' interpersonal relationships with teachers and among other students (peer group). Schools normally encourage joint activities that have a socializing effect on students. During these informal activities students learn to accept the culture and background of others. The workplace is another form of formal institution that serves as an agent of socialization. Similar to children who spend a significant amount of time in school, adults spend more time in the workplace. Unlike the school environment, in the workplace a person encounters colleagues not only with different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs, but also with larger age gaps. This helps a person broaden his tolerance and social acceptance. Furthermore, the workplace teaches a sense of responsibility and reliability as well as behavior towards superiors, even if they are younger, as well as towards juniors and subordinates. “The workplace fulfills its socialization function through onboarding. This is the mechanism through which new employees acquire the knowledge, skills, and behaviors necessary to become effective members of the organization. Tactics used in this process include formal meetings, conferences, videos, printed materials, or computer-based orientations. Research has shown that these socialization techniques lead to positive outcomes for new employees, including increased job satisfaction, improved job performance, increased organizational commitment, and reduced stress. These findings are particularly important for an organization seeking to maintain a competitive advantage in an increasingly mobile and globalized workforce.” Other forms of institutions are psychiatric hospitals, military hospitals, prisons, monasteries, and orphanages, among others. “The goal of total institutions is resocialization, the radical alteration of residents' personalities through the deliberate manipulation of their environment. Key examples include the process of resocializing new recruits into the military so that they can function as soldiers. Resocialization is a two-part process. First, the institution's staff seeks to erode the residents' identity and independence. Second, resocialization involves the systematic attempt to build a different personality or self. This is generally done through a system of reward and punishment. The privilege of reading a book, watching television, or making a phone call can be a powerful motivator to conform. Conformity occurs when individuals modify their behavior to fit the expectations of an authority figure or the expectations of a larger group.” Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion In conclusion, socialization through family, i 12 1, , 228-232.
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