Agents of Socialization Affect our Personality
Agents of socialization are the specific individuals, groups, and institutions that enable socialization to take place.
FAMILY
This is the most important agent of socialization in most societies. It can be deliberate (Ex. A mother teaches her kids good study habits) or unintended (Ex. A father tells his children not to use foul language, but they hear him say bad words when he is frustrated or hurt). Unintended usually has an even greater effect on children.
PEER GROUP
This is a primary group of composed individuals of roughly equal age and similar social characteristics. Peer groups usually have the most influence on people who are preteens or early teenagers. Preteens and teenagers usually want peer acceptance so that they are not labeled outsiders or misfits. To get this peer acceptance, they are willing to adopt values and standards of the peer group.
SCHOOL
Because young people spend so much of their time at school, it can have a great impact on them. A lot of the socialization is deliberate in school. Such things are extracurricular activities and and class activities. Schools also try to teach students values such as patriotism, responsibility, and good citizenship. Unintentional socialization occurs with teachers as models for the students and peer groups within the school.
MASS MEDIA
These are instruments of communication that reach large audiences with no personal contact between those sending the information and those receiving it. The major forms are TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, movies, books, and the Internet. Television has the most influence on children and much of this influence can be negative. For example, as children see violent acts on television, they act aggressively toward others. On the positive side, television can also be a tool for education and can expand the viewers world.
FAMILY
This is the most important agent of socialization in most societies. It can be deliberate (Ex. A mother teaches her kids good study habits) or unintended (Ex. A father tells his children not to use foul language, but they hear him say bad words when he is frustrated or hurt). Unintended usually has an even greater effect on children.
PEER GROUP
This is a primary group of composed individuals of roughly equal age and similar social characteristics. Peer groups usually have the most influence on people who are preteens or early teenagers. Preteens and teenagers usually want peer acceptance so that they are not labeled outsiders or misfits. To get this peer acceptance, they are willing to adopt values and standards of the peer group.
SCHOOL
Because young people spend so much of their time at school, it can have a great impact on them. A lot of the socialization is deliberate in school. Such things are extracurricular activities and and class activities. Schools also try to teach students values such as patriotism, responsibility, and good citizenship. Unintentional socialization occurs with teachers as models for the students and peer groups within the school.
MASS MEDIA
These are instruments of communication that reach large audiences with no personal contact between those sending the information and those receiving it. The major forms are TV, radio, magazines, newspapers, movies, books, and the Internet. Television has the most influence on children and much of this influence can be negative. For example, as children see violent acts on television, they act aggressively toward others. On the positive side, television can also be a tool for education and can expand the viewers world.