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Socialization - Behaviors and Cultural Norms

The individual lacks an open choice of social roles. .
             Talcott Parsons one of the most important theorists of socialisation. He saw socialisation as vital to the process by which a value consensus is produced in society. Through socialisation the individual internalises society's values, they become a part of an individual's personality. Individuals take on aspects of society's culture, which makes their behavior largely predictable and contributes to the maintenance of social order. The creation and maintenance of a value consensus allows society to meet basic needs, such as the need for common culture. Socialisation provides people with common goals; it teaches them the appropriate behavior associated with particular roles and allows them to learn the norms. Parsons argued that the family is the most important agency of primary socialisation. He saw socialisation as taking place primarily through identification with adults. Children identify with adults of the same sex and tend to imitate them. Parsons believed that it is beneficial to society if women take primary responsibility for childcare, while men are the main breadwinners. Part of socialisation involves learning different gender roles in which women are more expressive and men are more instrumental. Parsons saw schools as an important agency of secondary socialisation. Parsons described school as a focal socialising agency because it acts as a bridge between the home and society at large. In schools members of society learn to treat others according to general rules or universalistic values. This contrasts with the family, where children are treated as individuals according to what are believed to be their individual needs. They are treated as a particular person, in terms of particularistic values. At school therefore, children become accustomed to conforming to abstract, formal rules. His theory focuses on how society as a social system maintains order.


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... leadership, or coherent training program. Adult behavior is "culturally patterned" from childhood experiences influencing the individual's personality as an adult, and the adult personality characteristics influencing the cultural institutes such as religion (LeVine 2001). Culture and personality creates socialization patterns. It shapes a person's emotions, thoughts, behaviors, cultural values and norms to fit into and function as productive members in the surrounding human society. The study of culture ... and personality wanted to examine how different socialization practices resulte...

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2. Gender Socialization

... . Depending on whether we are born male or female, we are set on a separate course in life for that sex. From cultural guidelines, Parents begin to teach children their part in this symbolic separation of the sexes. Based on this socialization that happens at a very early age, there is a strong impact on the identity of the individual. Color plays a big part in ... teach gender roles to their children at a young age. Gender roles are the behaviors and attitudes considered appropriate because one is male or female. According to a study done in 1969, it was shown that mothers tend to imple...

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3. Social class effects on education and socialization

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4. Socialization of children during the industrial revolution

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5. Cultural Diferences

... culture explains between 25 and 50 percent of variation in attitudes and is also related to social behaviors such as aggression, conflict resolution, social distance, helping, dominance, conformity, and obedience, as well as decision-making and leadership behaviors (Triandis, 1994). The two key cultural values that are the most likely to influence cultural differences are power distance and individualism. Power distance ... separation between superiors and subordinates because organizations in these cultures manifest rules and substantial bureaucratic structures to guide behavior (Hedlun...

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6. Socialization - The Impact on Social Groups

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7. Life Span Growth and Development

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8. Gender Roles and Expectations

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9. Sociology Study Guide

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