Doctoral Student Socialization

The term socialization, in its broadest sense, refers to the processes by which individuals, from early until later in life, acquire and integrate those norms, values, and attitudes of their immediate surroundings that will allow them to interact with and participate in the social world. Socialization occurs by way of conscious as well as unconscious processes, and these processes in turn are influenced by different agents of socialization across the life span. In the early stages of life, for instance, the language and culture of caregivers are primary agents of socialization, and early socialization can be reinforced or expanded by the type of school a child attends. In adulthood, agents of socialization include employers, romantic partners, and higher education (i.e., study undertaken at the baccalaureate ...