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Socialization

One of the most fascinating domains of study in sociology involves the process of socialization, or the process by which we learn the ways of a specific society so that we can function within it. The process of socialization is essential for our unique development as human beings. We learn to think, reason, control our emotions, and have relationships through the process of socialization. In short, all of these social behaviors are shaped according to the guidelines given in a particular culture or society. Multiple forces including parents, family, peers, schools, neighborhoods, the media, as well as the broader culture shape social behavior.

Family has the strongest influence on children's socialization, while peers also exert a strong influence on socializing children and adolescents. The peer group is a social group whose members are the same age, share interests, and share social positions. Further, the mass media may also shape children's ideas about what behaviors and values will help them to fit into society. The mass media are interpersonal communications aimed at a vast audience, including television, newspapers, the Internet, radio, books, as well as other forms of mass communication. Last, broader forces such as social class and gender also influence the socialization process. Social class shapes the process of socialization by influencing values and occupational goals within families. For example, depending on social class, parents may shape their children's behavior toward conformity (necessary for most blue-collar jobs) or independence (necessary for most white-collar jobs). This entry focuses primarily on the role of parenting in the socialization process of children and the ways in which social class and gender influence socialization.

Socialization and Parenting

Parental socialization refers to the process by which parents transmit knowledge and values related to culture to their children. Parents and family are the primary individuals who provide love and nurturance to children so they can develop a foundation of trust in human relationships. Parents also train children with knowledge and skills to become autonomous individuals within a specific culture or society (e.g., parents may train children to be polite to facilitate children's acceptance into social groups). Parents also provide discipline and control necessary for children to develop self-regulation of emotions and to guide their rational decision making as children make the transition from childhood to adolescence and young adulthood. For example, parents train children to control their impulsive emotions so that they can think clearly and make good decisions. Consequently, an adolescent may decide to control her desire to go out with her friends until she has finished her homework.

Parental Support and Control

Parents typically shape children's behavior through the use of two broad dimensions of behavior: emotional support and parental control. They provide emotional support through affection, love, warmth, and acceptance. Parental warmth is essential for children to develop feelings of self-esteem, competence, and a positive orientation toward human relationships. For example, nurturing parents provide positive feedback and love to their children on a consistent, daily basis. This positive feedback, in turn, helps children to develop trust in their parents and promotes self-confidence. When children have these positive, warm interactions with their parents, they develop positive feelings toward others in their own relationships with peers and others.

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