The Process of Socialization- Understanding Who I Am
Who Am I? Description
My name is John Doe, and I am from Clarksville, Tennessee. I am the second born of four children: two brothers and a sister. I delve to be of benefit to society and offer the best I can as a son, father, community leader, and student. Being raised in a family where my mother is a nurse and my father an attorney meant that a particular set of rules had to be followed, discipline being at the core of every activity. Although it was hard to understand why my siblings and I had to attend various community projects, summer camps, and educational fairs, I learned that my parents meant to provide me with independence by honing my decision-making skills. Challenges and disappointments are all part of growth individually. I was raised in a manner that meant that family was the most important thing and that it was everything. This meant that we had to attend several family gatherings and meetings. Accordingly, we would socialize, play, share ideas, and bond.
Being brought up in an intact family was one of the best experiences. My parents ensured that we engaged in activities to build our family bond. These activities included hiking, team building, cycling, book reading, and movie nights. Despite their busy schedules, time with the family was never compromised. As such, I learned that time is always there for those who intend to use it. My career choice is to become an advocate like my father. I delve into following in his footsteps and perhaps getting the opportunity to work alongside him in his law firm. The values instilled in me will guide me in doing what is right and helping people where possible.
Based on the foundations of my social life as an individual and in a family unit, socialization has taught me various aspects of the social world. Therefore, the four agents of socialization that best describe my social life revolve around family, school, the community, and peer groups.
Agent of Socialization
Family
The family is the basic unit when it comes to socialization. This implies that family is the first role I have to embrace. My immediate and extended family played a significant role in me when growing up. I have the most basic tasks through family: these include how to talk, walk, tidy and groom myself, to treat others, make decisions, interact with others, and, in the long run, make friends. Through this agent of socialization, I learned that there are a number of expectations and codes of conduct. This, in turn, assists me in the realization of various dreams while simultaneously understanding the role I play in society. The symbolic interaction theory by George Herbert Mead focuses on the relationships that individuals have within a particular society (Becker, 2017). Ideally, communication through language and symbols helps individuals make sense of their social work.
School
School exposed me to people with different cultures, ethnicity, language, and religion. This meant that socialization would be in a way that accommodated these variations through appreciating and respecting others. While in school, I realized that interacting with different individuals played a significant role in my character, attitude, and thinking. Since I was involved in study groups, I was able to share what I knew with others, and in the long run, this assisted me in developing my sense of individuality and personality. Interactions also assist in creating effectiveness and communication. The social theory suggests that groups are an important source of pride and self-esteem since they provide individuals with a sense of social identity as well as a sense of belonging in terms of the social world (Bush & Simmons, 2017).
The Community
Being involved in various community activities enhanced my sense of self-awareness and belonging. I was provided with various leadership roles in the community, which had different functions. Through the role theory, individual behavior and social structures are emphasized (Ibáñez-Cubillas et al., 2017). Roles are, to some extent, dictated by social structures ad social interactions. The community comprises different individuals, and interacting with them has been a major source of motivation, especially when intending to make a difference to achieve the general well-being of others.
Peer Groups
I was involved in various peer groups during my youth, especially those with common interests. Peer groups encourage growth, sharing, and caring. Accordingly, this meant that our bonds growing up were tight. Additionally, peer groups enhance communication among peers. Subsequently, social and emotional support was provided among the individuals in the peer groups.
In conclusion, the agents of socialization mentioned played a significant part in my growth over the years from childhood, as a teenager, and as an adult. Socialization has crafted a sense of wanting to belong to society, and this has, in turn, shaped it. Social groups, on the other hand, assist us in realizing our expectations within society and, hence, strengthen our values and societal norms.
References
Becker, H. S. (2017). The self and adult socialization. In Sociological work (pp. 289-304). Routledge.
Bush, D. M., & Simmons, R. G. (2017). Socialization processes over the life course. In Social psychology (pp. 133-164). Routledge.
Ibáñez-Cubillas, P., Díaz-Martín, C., & Pérez-Torregrosa, A. B. (2017). Social networks and childhood. New agents of socialization. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 237, 64-69.
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Question
Describe and analyze the process of socialization. Begin by responding to the question, “Who am I?” In your description, incorporate the concepts we have addressed in the course, such as roles, statuses, group membership, etc. Your response to this question should be at least 1+ page in length. Next, analyze at least 4 agents of socialization that have affected your development as an individual, focusing on childhood socialization into adulthood.
Consider, for example, how family, religion, media, peers, and education have influenced your development, opportunities, and life choices. Your analysis of the socialization process should be 3+ pages long and incorporate at least 4 sociological concepts or theories covered in this course (hint: sociological concepts should be clearly identified and then applied). You are encouraged to use and cite sources here. Any paraphrasing or direct quotes from another source should include APA formatted in-text citations and a complete reference at the end of the essay. Examples of related concepts and theories include the self, moral development, nature and nurture, and resocialization).