Agents of Socialization HSP3M

What are the “agents” of socialization? The numerous individuals, institutions and organizations that influence and shape an individual’s socialization. Family School Peer Groups Media Religion Workplace Total Institutions

Family First agent of socialization We learn language, communication skills, basic survival techniques, and normal rules of acceptable behaviour

Sibling Rivalry Family teaches us how to “get along” with other people, beginning with parents, siblings and extended families Teaches us about ourselves and our own personal qualities

School Makes us deal with formal rules Teaches us academic skills needed to prosper in society To socialize us and cooperate with strangers (latent function)

What do you learn in school? Rules about being punctual, being organized, neat, when to speak and when to listen How to speak in a formal manner Respect for authority Gender roles (intentional vs. unintentional)

Peer Group Social group where members are about the same age, share common interests and social position Opportunity to experiment with things that are discouraged by family

Peer Groups and Gender Roles Reinforced in the peer group Male teenagers feel pressure to develop athletic skills and perceived toughness Female teenagers feel pressure to concentrate on their physical appearance and adopt mature social concerns (environment, poverty)

Media Advertising tries to persuade the audience they can have it all. Unrealistic gender roles are created Excessive exposure makes individual susceptible to stereotyped concepts of gender

Religion Communicate beliefs about gender roles Appropriate sexual contact Collective responsibility of society The afterlife Raises moral questions

Workplace Learn specialized language Specific procedures, rules, and codes Commitment to employer Interaction with colleagues, customers and competitors Team-building exercises

Total Institutions Goal is to wipe out all prior socialization Ex: boot camps, prisons, religious cults Attempts to remove individuality and replace it with a common group identity Identical clothes, haircuts, strict rules and routines