Socialization, Culture, Norms and Values Into a Society

Socialization: Socialization is a process by whichpracticed by certain groups of Australian aborigines,
individual learn the culture of their society as it isEskimos and Caribou Indians.
the process of social learning and as such is a lifelongNorms: Norms are guidelines which direct conduct in
process.  Without undergoing this process, anparticular situations.  It is a specific guide to action
individual would bear little resemblance to any humanwhich defines acceptable and appropriate behaviour in
being defined as normal by the standards of his orvarious particular situations, e.g. Norms governing
her society, e.g. so called “wolf children ofdress which vary from society to society.
midnapore” two females aged two and eight,Norms are enforced by POSITIVE and NEGATIVE
were reportedly found in a wolf den in Bengali insanctions that is rewards and punishments. 
1920.  They walked on all fours, preferred a diet ofSanctions can be informal such as an approving or
raw meat, they howled like wolves and lacked anydisapproving glance, or formal, such as a reward or a
form of speech.fine given by an official body.
Such an example indicates that socialization involvingUsually, the threat of negative sanctions is sufficient
prolonged interaction with adults is essential not onlyto enforce normative behaviour.  Conversely an
for fitting new members into society but also theadmiring glance a word of praise or an encouraging
process of actually becoming human.smile provides rewards for conformity to social
Culture: Ralph Linton: “The culture of a society isnorms.
the way of life of its members; the collection ofValues: Unlike norms which provide specific directives
ideas and habits which they learn, share and transmitfor conduct, values provide more general guidelines. 
from generation to generation. A value is a belief that something is good and
Since human beings have no instinct to direct theirdesirable.  It defined what is important, worthwhile
actions, their behaviour must be based on guidelinesand worth striving for.  In the west for example the
which are learned.  But for a society to operatevalue of materialism motivates individuals to invest
effectively, these guidelines must be shared by itstime and energy producing and acquiring material
members.  Culture therefore has two essentialpossessions.  In term of Sioux values which place a
qualities: firstly it is learned, secondly it is shared. high value on generosity, the acquisitive individual of
Without it there would be no human society.western society would at best be regarded as
Culture defines accepted ways of behaving forpeculiar and more probably would be condemned as
members of a particular society.  Such definitionsgrasping self-seeking and antisocial.  Shared norms
vary from society to society.  Every society hasand values are essential for the operation of human.
certain common problems to deal with for examplePrimary socialization, probably the most important
the problem of dependent members such as theaspect of the socialization process, takes place during
very young and the very old.  However, solutions toinfancy, usually within the family.  Through the
such problems are culturally determined.  It is to befamily, the child learns the language and many of the
noted that the solutions provided in one society maybasic behaviour patterns of its society.
well be regarded as indefensible by members ofUltimately, the agents of socialization are the family,
other societies, e.g. under certain circumstances,the educational system, the peer group, the
“infanticide and geronticide” have beenoccupational group and mass-media.