{"id":108,"date":"2016-04-28T00:44:31","date_gmt":"2016-04-28T00:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/introductiontosociology-waymaker\/?post_type=chapter&p=108"},"modified":"2024-04-25T14:39:22","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T14:39:22","slug":"why-socialization-matters","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/wm-introductiontosociology\/chapter\/why-socialization-matters\/","title":{"raw":"The Importance of Socialization","rendered":"The Importance of Socialization"},"content":{"raw":"
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Learning Outcomes<\/h3>\r\n
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  • Explain the importance of socialization both for individuals and society<\/li>\r\n \t
  • Distinguish nature from nurture in socialization<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

    Socialization<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0is the process through which people are taught to be proficient members of a society. It describes the ways that people come to understand societal norms and expectations, to accept society\u2019s beliefs, and to be aware of societal values.\u00a0Socialization<\/em>\u00a0is not the same as\u00a0socializing<\/em>\u00a0(interacting with others, like family and friends); to be precise, it is a sociological process that occurs through socializing.<\/p>\r\n

    While Noel's story from the beginning of the module is about a relatively advanced stage of life, socialization is crucial for early childhood. Even the most basic of human activities are learned. Learning to crawl and then walk are major milestones, but as any parent, guardian, or family member of a toddler knows, other minor accomplishments can be life-altering for the child: climbing stairs, safely getting out of bed, sitting in a regular chair, and drinking from a regular cup. Likewise, family behaviors and values must be learned, sometimes through observation and sometimes through active instruction. Thus, sociologists have also long been fascinated by circumstances in which a child receives sufficient human support to survive, but virtually no social interaction\u2014because they highlight how much we depend on social interaction to provide the information and skills we need to be part of society or even to develop a \u201cself.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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    Try It<\/h3>\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/ea1c6811-b718-4bb3-8112-37c3fa5fd811\r\n\r\nhttps:\/\/assess.lumenlearning.com\/practice\/ae7531a0-33e6-4aa3-8130-44d2eda14b49\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\nSocialization is critical both to individuals and to the societies in which they live.\u00a0As individuals, social interaction provides us the means by which we gradually become able to see ourselves through the eyes of others, and how we learn who we are and how we fit into the larger world. In addition, to function successfully in society, we have to learn the basics of both material and nonmaterial culture, everything from how to dress ourselves to what\u2019s suitable attire for a specific occasion; from when we sleep to what we sleep on; and from what\u2019s considered appropriate to eat for dinner and even how to use the stove to prepare it. Most importantly, we have to learn language\u2014whether it\u2019s the dominant language or one common in a subculture, whether it\u2019s verbal or through signs\u2014in order to communicate and to think. Without socialization we have no commonly recognizable sense of self.<\/span>\r\n\r\nFor society to function, the socialization of individuals is necessary. Although how this occurs and what is transmitted in terms of cultural norms and values differs, every society relies upon socialization to ensure its survival. A core value in the United States is democracy, so children in the U.S. might hear about voting or go to vote with their families before they even begin school. Once in school, they will learn about American history, civics, and citizenship. Students also learn the ways that the U.S. has not upheld democratic ideals and has disenfranchised various groups of people. Thus, in addition to voting and learning\u00a0how to use material objects such <\/span>as voting machines,\u00a0children also learn about various social movements and leaders who resisted the existing social norms in order to facilitate change. Learning about how society has failed to live up to its ideals (and continues to struggle in certain areas) helps citizens not only to understand values and norms on a personal level, but also to see the importance of values and norms in society, as well as how these can change over time.\u00a0Remember that socialization is a lifelong process, so in our example, people will continue to examine whether or not the U.S. is living up to its democratic ideals over many years.\r\n
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    WAtch It<\/h3>\r\nWatch this video to learn more about what it means to be socialized, and what things contribute to socialization. The video provides an effective overview of several concepts related to socialization that will be covered in this module.\r\n\r\n