Agents of Socialization

1
Chapter 5

• Section 3

2
Agents of Socialization

• Agents of socialization are the specific
  individuals, groups, and institutions that enable
  socialization to take place.
• The primary agents are the family, peer group,
  school, and mass media.

3
The Family

• The family is the most important agent. It is
  the principal socializer of young children.
• Socialization can be deliberate in the family by
  stressing the importance of telling the truth.
• It can also be unintended by the actions of the
  parents.
• The process is different in each family.

4
The Peer Group

• As children grow older peer groups become much
  more important.
• Winning peer acceptance is a big deal for teens.
• To do this young people are willing to adopt the
  values and standards of the peer group.
• Sometimes peer group norms are different from the
  rest of society.

5
The School

• Most young people spend a majority of their time
  in school.
• Because of this school plays a major role in
  socialization.
• Schools attempt to transmit cultural values and
  responsibility.
• A large amount of unintended socialization
  happens in schools.

6
The Mass Media

• The socialization of the mass media is not a face
  to face type.
• Television is the most influential type.
• Some problems with this is the amount of violence
  on TV.
• On the positive side television can be a great
  teaching tool.

7
Resocialization

• Total institution is where people are cut off
  from the rest of society. Prison.
• Resocialization is a process where people have to
  change their behaviors.