Soc 3-4 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Soc 3-4 - Essay Example There are several agents both formal and informal that assist in the process of socialization. Agents of socialization are the persons, groups or institutions that teach what is necessary to live in the society. While the school and the mass media represent the formal or sometimes known as secondary agents, the primary or the informal agents are the family and the peers. Each agent influences an individual in a different way in the process of development. Family is the most important agent of socialization and the most important source of emotional support. The entire environment which comprises of both parents and siblings make up a family. Earlier even the grandparents formed a part of the family and the children learned a lot from the wisdom of the grandparents. Today the families have split up. There are either nuclear families or with single parents and the child imbibes what he experiences. His attitudes and behaviors depend on the environment in which he grows up. The family is where individuals acquire the specific position in the society. The next important agent of socialization is the peer group which is a group of people linked by common interests, equal social position and similar age. They contribute to the sense of belonging and feelings of self-worth. The peer group teaches to live in a group and to earn the acceptance of the peers is important. A peer group has its own norms, attitudes and beliefs which have to be met. The school and the mass media are the secondary agents but equally important in the socialization process. Schools teach specific knowledge and skills and have a profound effect on the child’s self image, beliefs and values. Schools teach individuals to be productive members of the society and to contribute to the society. They teach self control and guide them in the process of selection, training and placement on different rungs in the society.