SOCIALIZATION AND ENCULTURATION

Agents of Socialization and Enculturation

 Every social groups that people come in contact and
interact with throughout their lives.
The Family
 Primary agent of the socialization of an individual.
 From birth to the early development of the child.
 Different types of families can give different perspective
as the child grow.
 Family culture and social backgrounds are also
significant factors of child’s opportunities and
experiences.
 The outlook on genders, gender roles, sexualities, and
values are also heavily influenced.
The School
 The critical and active role in socialization.
 Academic and social activities mold students’ belief,
values, and attitudes.
 Different classifications of school can affect an
individual’s experience.
 Schools are also the core of the other ‘agents of
socialization’ like peer groups, politicians, religions,
state, and histories of major and historical events.
Peer Groups
 Refers to people who share similarities.
 Formed by informal, spontaneous, and voluntary
means.
 Examples are boy scouts/ girl scouts.
Mass Media
 Print materials or electronic devices
 Source of information regarding events in society.
 Pluralist model – portrays media as an ideological
marketplace.
 Market model – suggests that media reflects the views
of the general public.
 Dominant-ideology model – links between media and
the political and social elite.
 Elite-values model – personal views of professionals
such as journalists, broadcasters, and editors.
Religion and State
 Both are considered as the ‘ultimate’ source of
authority.
 Religions influences the views of a person, legitimizes
accepted social practices, provides stability to society,
and can even be sources of social changes.
 State define and limits the influence of religion on
society through laws, regulations, and other means.
  States upholds important concepts such as rights and
responsibilities, and regulates the behavior of its citizen
through laws.
Major Social and Historical Events
 It can also be a significant socializing forces for an entire
generation.
 Historical events tend to affect individuals and societies
differently.
 Variations in the interpretation of historical events often
lead to substantial variations in socialization within the
society.