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What is Socialization ?
Socialization is the term that sociologists use to describe
the process by which people learn/seek their culture. Socialization occurs in
societies big and small, simple and complex, preindustrial and industrial.
Without socialization, we would not learn our culture.
Without culture, we could not have a society. Socialization, then, is an
essential process for any society to be possible.
Importance of Socialization
Socialization is the process through which individuals learn
their culture and become fully human. Unfortunate examples of extreme human
isolation illustrate the importance of socialization for children’s social and
cognitive development.
Agents of Socialization
Several institutions and other sources of socialization
exist and are called agents of socialization. The first of these, the family,
is certainly the most important agent of socialization for infants and young
children.
Social Interaction
If socialization results from our social interaction with
others, it is also true that we learn how to interact from our socialization.
We will learn that how far apart to stand when talking to someone else, we
learn to enjoy kissing, we learn how to stand and behave in an elevator, and we
learn to shake hands when greeting someone.
Levels / Elements of Social Interaction
(1)
Speech:
Ironically, non-verbal communication an
also be found in speech. This type of non-verbal communication is called
paralanguage and includes vocal elements such as voice, quality, pace, pitch,
volume, rhythm and intonation. Differences in paralanguage can impact the
message that is communicated through words.
(2)
Posture:
Posture, or a person’s bodily stance,
communicates much about a person’s perspectives. Various postures include
slouching, towering, shoulders forward, and arm crossing. These non-verbal
behaviours can indicate a person’s feelings and attitudes. Posture can be used
to determine an individual’s degree of intention or involvement. Posture is
socialized and geographical, meaning that an individual learns different ways
to carry themselves in different contexts.
(3)
Gestures:
Gestures are movements with one’s hands, arms
or face that communicate a particular message. Facial expressions are a
particularly communicative form of gesture. With all of the various muscles
that precisely control the mouth, lips, eyes, nose, forehead and jaw, human
faces can make more than ten thousand different expressions.
(4)
Clothing:
Clothing are items worn on the body.
Clothing is a form of non-verbal communication that everyone engages in unless
living on a nudist colony. The type of clothing an individual wears convey
non-verbal clues about his/her personality, background and financial status.
Even if an individual does not put much thought into his attire, what he wears
still communicates something to others, even unintentionally. You would dress
differently to go to a wedding than a job interview than camping.
5 Consequences
Non-verbal communication can have serious
consequences, even if the public understands the message they are receiving is
being conveyed unintentionally.
6 Exchange;
Social
exchange theory argues that people form relationships because they determine
that it is in their best interests to do so.