Question

What do you mean by socialisation. Describe the main agents of socialisation.

Answer 1

Socialisation: Socialisation is a process of social learning through which a child acquires the norms, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that are accepted in his/ her culture.

Main agents of socialisation are following: 

a) Parents: 

       •Parents have the most direct and significant impact on children's development.

• Parents encourage certain behaviours by rewarding them verbally.

• The conditions of life in which parents live also influence the styles they adopt in socializing children.

b) School: 

   • In schools children learn not only congnitive skills but also many social skills.

• Several other positive qualities such as self initiative, self control responsibility, and creativity are encouraged in schools.

c) Peer groups: 

    • Friendship provides children not only with a good opportunity to be in company of others, but also for organizing various activities collectively with the member of their own age.

• Development of self identity is greatly facilitated by the peer groups.

d) Media influence: 

    • The exposure to violence on television enhances aggressive behaviour among children.

• In recent years media has also acquired the property of a socializing agent therefore children learn about many things from newspapers, television,books and cinema.

Socialisation is a process of social learning through which a child acquires the norms, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours that are accepted in his/ her culture.