SOCIALISATION PROCESS

SOCIALISATION PROCESS

4.1 Concept of Socialisation :

Socialisation is a term used by scholars to refer to the lifelong process of inheriting and passing on norms , customs , values and ideologies by providing an individual with the skills and habits necessary for participating within its own society . It is the process by which children and adults learn from others . Learning from others starts from the earliest days of life and the majority of people continue social learning throughout their lives . However , some of the most important socialisation occurs in infanthood and childhood . The child performs its unique and effective role in society when it is appropriately socialised .

Socialisation is a term used by sociologists , social psychologists , anthropologists , political scientists and educationalists to refer to the lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating norms , customs and ideologies and providing an individual with the skills and habits necessary for participating within his or her own society.

Various sociologists have defined socialisation as follows :

According to JJ Macionis , ” The lifelong process by which an individual becomes a proper member of society and develops human characteristics “.

According to PB Horton and CL Hunt , ” It is a learning process in which groups interact and learn social norms , also developing themselves “.

According to WF Ogburn , ” It is the process of learning the norms of the group and society “.

According to RM Mclver , ” It is the process through which social beings develop relationships and association with each other “.

According to ES Bogardus , ” A process of learning to live and work together is called socialisation “.

On the basis of the above definitions , we can understand that socialisation is a learning process through which an individual adjusts himself in society and fine tunes his role and position in society.

4.1.1 Types of Socialisation :

Socialisation can be divided into two types . These are as follow :

1. Primary This is important for a child because it sets the groundwork for all future socialisation . It occurs when a child learns the attitudes , values and actions appropriate for a member of a particular culture . It is influenced most by the immediate family and friends .

2. Secondary This refers to the process of learning the appropriate behaviour as a member of a smaller group within the larger society which is reinforced by socialising agents of society other than the immediate family .

Secondary socialisation is usually associated with teenagers and adults . It takes place outside home . For instance , schools and colleges require very different behaviour from the home , and children must act according to the rules of school when they are there .

4.1.2 Factors Influencing Socialisation :

1. Social Interaction Interacting socially in the family neighbourhood and schools , as well as with friends , and classmates the community is an organised psychological process characterised by

( i ) Imitation of Others This means copying someone else’s behaviour in our own style which develops a unique aspect of our personality .

( ii ) Suggestion by Others Suggestions may be conveyed through language , pictures or some similar medium to the child . They influence the child’s behaviour with others as well as its own private and individual behaviour .

( iii ) Sympathy This helps the child to empathise with other and helps it to initiate conversation .

2. Identification In its early age , most of the child’s actions are random , natural and unconscious . As the child grows , it realises the nature of things which satisfy its needs . Such things become the object of its identification like the mother , a toy or a picture book . Through identification the child becomes sociable .

3. Language It is the means of cultural transmission and social interaction . At first , the child utters some random syllabus which have no meaning , but gradually it comes to learn its mother – tongue .

Erik Erickson mentioned eight stages of life ( including adulthood ) , in each of which the individual faces a specific crisis on challenge and moves from one stage to the next when the crisis is resolved .

Eight Stages of Life Mentioned by Eric Erickson :

Infancy (Birth to 18 months) (Trust vs Mistrust) (Feeding , love and care) (The parents ‘ nurturing ability and care for the child , due to visual contact and touch is emphasised .) (The child will develop optimism , trust , confidence and security if properly cared for and handled . If a child does not experience trust , it may develop insecurity , worthlessness , and general mistrust to the world .)

Early Childhood ( 18 months to 3 years) (autonomy vs shame) (Control , coordination and toilet training) (The child learns to control and coordinate its muscles , walk , talk , appreciate and understand different gestures and also learns to control its natural processes .) (The child will develop autonomy and sense of independence , if successful . But it feels ashamed if condemned by its parents for doing something wrong .)

Pre – school (3 to 6 years) (Initiative vs Guilt) (Obedience and exploration) (The child becomes a member of the family as a whole and enters school . It learns to obey other adults besides its parents ( e.g. teachers ) , develops a sense of equality with peers , plays games , handles equipment and fits in the new routine of school day .) (The child will develop a sense of purpose if successful , but failure will lead to a feeling of guilt . )

School Age / Later Childhood (6 to 11 years) (Industry vs Inferiority) (Autonomy and skill acquisition ) (The child changes from a dependent person to full autonomous status . Here , it begins to acquire skills through education that will prepare it for adult roles .) (If successful , achievement values develop due to parental emphasis on competence and autonomy for the child to solve problems and succeed on its own . Failure will make the child feel inferior and incompetent .)

Adolescence (11 to 18 years) (Identity vs Role) (Development of values) (This marks the transition from childhood to adulthood . The person experiences many biological changes . Peer groups enormously influence socialisation At this stage , individuals must have a clear idea about their own beliefs and values) (The individual develops conventional values of society and identifies with it , if successful . Failure leads to role confusion .)

Young Adulthood (18 to 35 years) (Intimacy vs Isolation) (Development of relationships) (Individuals seek companionship and love Some also begin to ” settle down ” and start families . They seek deep intimacy and satisfying relationships .) (The individual develops intimacy and satisfying relationships , if successful . Loneliness and isolation may occur if the individual is unsuccessful .)

Middle Adulthood (35 to 65 years) (Generativity VS Stagnation) (Work and family responsibilities ) (Career and work are the most important things at this stage , along with family . this time , people can take on greater responsibilities and control and work to establish stability .) (Success leads to a sense of achievement and of having made a difference to society . 1504 Failure will result in a feeling of stagnation and a feeling of the meaninglessness of life .)

Maturity (65 years to death ) (Integrity vs Despair) (Reflection on life) (The physical and psychological problems associated with menopause get coupled with the sad feeling of departure of the children from home , resulting in discontinuity of roles .

Among men , the transition from active adult status to retirement is often more traumatic , especially if the transition involves a drastic loss in economic status . When this retirement is accompanied by relative poverty and deprivation , older people experience a loss of identity and personal worth .) (Successful people feel a sense of achievement . Failure leads to regret , bitterness and despair .)

Thus , the stages of socialisation show that socialisation is a never ending process , starting with the birth of the child and continues till Beach

4.1.3 Agents of Socialisation :

Socialisation of an individual occurs through its interaction with various agents during its lifetime and these include the family , the peer group , the school , the mass media , among others .

1. The Family This is the primary agent of socialisation for most people , especially in the first five years of their lives . The family provides the child with its first social contact with the world and through it the correct patterns of behaviour are internalised and learnt .
Learning occurs informally and the right / wrong behaviour is approved / rejected through reward and punishment .

2. The School When a child reaches school age , it starts to widen its socialisation cycle . The learning is more formal in school Talents are evaluated on the basis of standards and requirements .

The school helps the child to adapt to the social order , functioning to prepare the stable adult life . The school imparts certain technical and intellectual skills as well as the cultural heritage of society so that the individual is able to integrate into society .

3. The Peer Group Peer group members are usually children of the same age and have similar status . For instance , a child who enters standard one in school and finds itself in a class of children of the same age , might become friendly with only some of them . Yet the whole class constitutes its peer group .
However , as a child grows up , it starts to choose its own peer group based on common interests , activities , similar income level and status . The peer group affects the individual in such issues like appearance , lifestyles , fads and fashion , social activities and dating , drugs , attitude to sex and technology .

4. The Mass Media Mass media transmit information in an impersonal manner which is all the time conducted in a one – way flow . Mass media also harms its audience and receivers because , by concentrating and stressing on certain topics , the media can create , manage and control impressions of what should be seen as real , important and as per norms .

4.1.4 Role of Play in Socialisation :

If children do not play , they cannot develop creativity , which is very important in education . Play is a key element in the process of socialisation of children . As Bruner ( 1975 ) stated , ” Play is … the principal business of childhood . ” Education must take into account the modern problems of children and their understanding of the play process .Currently , the types of play and games are changing . As generations are changing , play is changing too .

4.1.5 Historical Aspects of Play in Socialisation :

Historical artifacts and documents prove that children have been playing since ancient times . Toys have been found in the ruins of ancient China , Egypt , Babylonian and other civilisations . The aspect of play and its value in the socialisation process has been of interest to child psychologists , educators and scientists for generations .

Parten ( 1932 ) identifies the following levels of play as part of the maturation process of children .

1. Solitary Play This means playing without regarding involvement of other children in the room or playground . A child may build a tower with blocks , yet be oblivious to other nearby children .

2. Character Play As the child plays , it observes other children in the same area . Often this child will begin to model its play on another child . After watching another child , it may alter its own play . Even though a child may appear to show little interest , but he is observing others playing .
3. Parallel Play This form of play consists of several children playing with the same materials , but each is playing separately . An example is using puzzles . The child may converse with others , but works independently . If one child leaves the group , the play continues .

4. Associative Play This is play in which a loosely organised game is decided upon . For instance , children may run around the room pretending to be aeroplanes or cars . There are no definite rules or roles . Even if one child decides not to play , the others continue .

5. Cooperative Play This is the form of play in which children assume assigned roles and depend on others for achieving the goals of play . For instance , if children want to play ‘ House ‘ , they need others to participate in the roles of one or more parents and several children . If one of the key players decides to drop out , the play episode will most probably end .

Today , scholars of theories about early childhood education see play as developing well – being , creative thinking skills and cognitive development . As the child plays , all facets of development are developed . Motor , cognitive and socio – emotional development are increased as the child participates in play experiences . As the children engage in play , the need for variety and competence all come into focus .

 

CHAPTER EXERCISE

 

1. In the context of education socialisation means

( 1 ) always following social norms

( 2 ) creating one’s own social norms

( 3 ) respecting elders society

( 4 ) adapting and adjusting to social environment

 

2. Socialisation includes social integration , culture transmission and

( 1 ) providing emotional support

( 2 ) discouragement of rebellion

( 3 ) development of the individual’s personality

( 4 ) fitting individual into society forcefully

 

3. Peer groups refer to

( 1 ) people of roughly the same age

( 2 ) friends , buddies , pals

( 3 ) family members

( 4 ) All of the above

 

4. Kritika who does not talk much at home , talks a lot at school . It shows that

( 1 ) the school provides opportunities to children to talk a lot

( 2 ) teachers demand that children should talk a lot at school

( 3 ) she does not like her home at all

( 4 ) her thoughts get acknowledged at schools

 

5. In the progressive model of education as implemented by CBSE , socialisation of children is done in such a way , so as to expect them to

( 1 ) give up time – consuming social habits and learn how to score good grades

( 2 ) be an active participant in the group work and learn social skills

( 3 ) prepare themselves to conform to the rules and regulations of society without questioning

( 4 ) accept what they are offered by the school irrespective of their social background

 

6. Which type of nature will you have in your class to increase the process of socialisation ?

( 1 ) Strict

( 2 ) Loving and Sympathetic

( 3 ) Normal

( 4 ) None of the above

 

7. The feeling of shame and pride develops in stage of

( 1 ) infancy

( 2 ) early childhood

( 3 ) adolescence

( 4 ) adulthood 

 

8. Which of the following is a correct match ?

( 1 ) Middle Adulthood : Trust versus Mistrust

( 2 ) Adolescence : Intimacy versus Isolation

( 3 ) Pre – School : Identity versus Role confusion

( 4 ) Early Childhood : Autonomy versus Shame and doubt

 

9. Intimate and close friendship is shown in

( 1 ) early childhood

( 2 ) late childhood

( 4 ) young adulthood 

( 3 ) adolescence

10. According to Erikson , in which of the following stages in life is an individual able to start assisting in the socialisation of others ?

( 1 ) Stage of industry vs inferiority

( 2 ) Stage of identity vs role

( 3 ) Stage of intimacy vs isolation

( 4 ) Stage of generativity vs stagnation

 

11. What is regarded as the first age of socialisation in school ?

( 1 ) Infancy 

( 2 ) Childhood 

( 3 ) Adulthood

( 4 ) Adolescence

 

12. Out of the following stages of life , when does the most crucial socialisation in a person take place ?

( 1 ) Adulthood

( 2 ) Adolescence

( 3 ) Late childhood

( 4 ) Throughout the life

 

13. Development of language starts in which stage of Erik Erikson’s HER theory of development ?

( 1 ) Stage one 

( 2 ) Stage two 

( 3 ) Stage three

( 4 ) Stage four

 

14. A 13 years old boy quarrels with his elders in most matters and always tries to prove himself right . In which stage of development is he ?

( 1 ) Early childhood

( 2 ) Childhood

( 3 ) Adolescence

( 4 ) Youth

 

15. Which one of the following is the first source for the socialisation for a child ?

( 1 ) Family 

( 2 ) School 

( 3 ) Peer group

( 4 ) Temple

 

16. Which of the following are the agencies of social development of a child ? A. Family C. Teacher B. Peers D. School

( 1 ) C and D

( 2 ) A and D

( 3 ) A , B and C

( 4 ) All of these

 

17. What nature of classroom will have to increase the process of socialisation ?

( 1 ) Strict

( 2 ) Loving and sympathetic

( 3 ) Normal

( 4 ) None of the above

 

18. Children’s attitudes towards you persons of ethnic groups different from them are most strongly influenced by the attitudes of

( 1 ) their parents

( 2 ) their peers

( 3 ) the mass media

( 4 ) their siblings

Previous Years  Questions

19. In which of the following stages do children become active members of their peer group ?

( 1 ) Adolescence

( 2 ) Adulthood

( 3 ) Early childhood

( 4 ) Childhood

 

20. In the context of education , socialisation means [ CTET Jan 2012 ]

( 1 ) always following social norms

( 2 ) creating one’s own social norms

( 3 ) respecting elders in society

( 4 ) adapting and adjusting to social environment

 

 

21.Which would be the best first theme to start with in a nursery class ? [ CTET Nov 2012 ]

( 1 ) My family

( 2 ) My best friend

( 3 ) My neighbourhood 

( 4 ) My school

 

22. Socialisation is

( 1 ) change in social norms

( 2 ) rapport between teacher and taught

( 3 ) process of modernisation of society

( 4 ) adaptation of social norms

 

23. Which of the following is a passive agency of socialisation ?

( 1 ) Health club

( 2 ) Family

( 3 ) Eco club

( 4 ) Public library

 

24. Which one of the following is the primary agent of socialisation ?

( 1 ) Computer

( 2 ) Heredity

( 3 ) Political parties

( 4 ) Family 

25. Family plays role in socialisation of the child .

( 1 ) a not – so – important

( 2 ) an exciting

( 3 ) a primary

( 4 ) a secondary

 

26. Which of the following are secondary agents of socialisation ?

( 1 ) School and neighbourhood

( 2 ) School and immediate family member

( 3 ) Family and relatives

( 4 ) Family and neighbourhood

 

ANSWERS

 

1.  ( 4 )

2.  ( 3 )

3.  ( 2 )

4.  ( 4 )

5.  ( 2 )

6.  ( 2 )

7.  ( 2 )

8.  ( 4 )

9.  ( 4 )

10.  ( 3 )

11.  ( 2 )

12.  ( 2 )

13.  ( 3 )

14.  ( 3 )

15.  ( 1 )

16.  ( 4 )

17.  ( 2 )

18.  ( 1 )

19.  ( 1 )

20.  ( 4 )

21.  ( 1 )

22.  ( 4 )

23.  ( 4 )

24.  ( 4 )

25.  ( 3 )

26.  ( 1 )