Socialization

By: Stefi Tolentino

There are different kinds of socialization mainly; peer, gender, cultural. There are different kinds because socialization is such a broad and wide topic that it needs different sections/kinds to classify each one or to be more specific. Socialization can be defined by these kinds:

1. Peer - According to Hanish (2014), “From an early age, children are interested in and responsive to their peers, and they form meaningful relationships with them. This kind of socialization is regarding people and how they interact”. This has a lot to do with people’s behavior, attitude, and personality. Their development with how they think of themselves and with how they act. 

2. Gender - According to Hanish (2014), “Gender is salient to young children’s own identities and perceptions of others and they socialize each other’s gendered behaviors”. This kind of socialization has a lot to do with one’s identity. 

3. Cultural - According to Sincero, “Socialization is the process of knowing another person`s culture and learning how to live within it”. This kind of socialization has a lot to do with the norms and traditions different kinds of people could experience. 

The written definition of enculturation is the process of adapting or receiving your own culture. It has a lot to do with development and figuring out the different traditions or practices in one’s own culture. We also learn about the different morals, values, and behaviors that are accepted in our society. 

Acculturation is another case as it discusses adopting and learning parts of another culture. This usually occurs when one experiences a prolonged interaction with a dominant cultures. 

Assimilation is the process of eradicating or totally neglecting one’s own culture. This may start as acculturation, then progress into something more. 

Cultural diffusion is certain parts of different cultures being spread through different handles like social media, movies, tv shows— entertainment purposes. We, personally, experience this everyday with our exposure through social media and with the popular movies coming out today— it is inevitable that we won’t be exposed to cultures that aren’t our own. 

The importance of studying socialization in understanding culture, society, and politics is that socialization helps us understand the way people behave. Without socialization, we wouldn’t be able to understand the way people think, feel, and behave. As a result, learning this will be beneficial in understanding different aspects of society because we are able to fully perceive people of the society. According to Cole (2018), “Without socialization, we would not even be able to have a society because there would be no process through which the norms, values, ideas, and customs that compose a society could be transmitted”. Which, in my opinion, is very important. 

This topic has made me realize how important socialization truly is. Without socialization, we wouldn’t understand people. Socialization opens our eyes and prompts us to think and act outside our box. The time in my life where I realized this was when I took a trip to another country. I didn’t expect to get out of my comfort zone in this experience but I was able to do much thing i’d never think of doing in my life. 

References:

Hanish, Laura (August 2014). Peer socialization of gender in young boys and girls. Retrieved from: http://www.child-encyclopedia.com/gender-early-socialization/according-experts/peer-socialization-gender-young-boys-and-girls

Sincero, Sarah Mae. Adapting One`s Culture. Retrieved from: https://explorable.com/socialization

Cole, Nicki (2018, January 3). Understanding Socialization in Sociology. Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/socialization-in-sociology-4104466