Children are born into a social environment. When he first comes to this world, no social or mature behavior can be observed except for some biological needs and reflexes like hunger, thirst etc. A variety of behaviors develop during puberty due to exposure to different people in the environment in which he grows up. He learns to understand what behavior everyone says is good; What makes others say evil or upset; how to control yourself; When and how should be treated with whom etc. In short, prosocial behavior develops in the society or environment in which the child lives. Prevailing norms, behavior, values of the society – everything influences a child in such a way that he becomes a member of the society. This process of social influence is called socialization.
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It’s not limited to childhood and adolescence. It is a lifelong process. Socialization continues from birth to death. Sometimes the speed of this process increases significantly. For example, it’s more active during childhood than it is after puberty. In addition, the speed of socialization increases with respect to environmental changes at particular stages of life. For example the socialization of the individual into life situations at the end of student life and at the beginning of working life can be mentioned. With different people in new situations, with actions, above all with group norms or norms of behavior of individuals in the workplace.
In this case, the person takes special action to adapt. Similarly, after marriage or after retirement from employment, socialization activity increases significantly during adaptation to new life situations.
Socialization differs from other change processes in two ways. First, changes other than attitudinal and learned behavioral changes (ie, physical changes) are not included in socialization. Second, only changes in attitude and behavior based on interactions with other people can be considered as the result of it. For example, learning the language of one’s own region is a result of socialization. But learning to run or jump is not part of socialization. This is because language learning has a history of numerous interactions with various individuals in the individual’s environment (mother, father, relatives, friends, neighbors, etc.).
He learned the language of the region from the members of the society. But learning to run or jump didn’t have to be particularly dependent on social interaction with other people. Like language learning, many other behaviors are learned by the individual from his environment. Therefore, one type of code of conduct can be observed in a group or culture. Individuals learn or acquire social customs, moral values, religious beliefs etc. from their society, family or religious group.
A point to be noted here is that socialization does not mean molding an individual into an ideal social pattern. That is, if a person does not possess ideal character, it is wrong to think that the person has not been socialized. Various socializing pressures come upon the individual from the social environment and he reacts to those pressures in a unique way. As a result, the socialization process introduces differences and similarities between different groups of individuals. In short, every individual has to go through the process of socialization – because he lives in some social environment. Just as a saint is a product of socialization, so is a dishonest person.
Product of socialization. That is, personality is influenced by environment through socialization. Through this process we learn the good behavior of the society as well as the bad behavior through this process. So generosity, philanthropy, violence, superstition – all can be termed as the result of socialization. The effects of socialization are ongoing. So through this we acquire some values as well as changes in values also happen.
In a word, it can be said that the process by which a person adjusts himself with his social environment and situation from birth to death is called socialization. According to Massen, Conger and Kagan (1974) “socialization is the process by which individuals learn the norms of behavior, beliefs, norms and values appropriate to their own family and culture”.