Socialization and Social Groups: Understanding the Basics

Socialization

Socialization is the process by which individuals within a society or culture learn and internalize a code of norms, values, and ways of perceiving reality. This provides them with the skills needed to function successfully in social interactions with other individuals.

Agents of Socialization

Primary Socialization

This is the first socialization that an individual goes through in childhood, and through it, they become a member of society. This occurs in the early years and primarily involves the family. It is characterized by a strong emotional charge. Primary socialization ends when the concept of the generalized other is established in the individual's conscience. At this point, the individual is an effective member of society. In this phase, one learns to grasp reality.

Secondary Socialization

This is any subsequent process that introduces socialized individuals into new areas of their society's objective world. It is the internalization of "sub-worlds" (partial realities that contrast with the world acquired in primary socialization) based on institutions. The individual discovers that the world of their parents is not unique. The emotional charge is replaced by teaching techniques that facilitate learning. It is characterized by the social division of labor and the social distribution of knowledge. Socialization is simply interacting with others and having the ability to socialize with other people.

Social Group

A social group, also called a cluster, is a set of people who play reciprocal roles in society. It can be easily identified, is structured, and durable. The people in it act according to the same rules, values, and purposes agreed upon and necessary for the common good of the group.

Legal Standard

A legal rule is a rule of human behavior or management issued by the competent authority of the case, with a criterion of value, and whose failure brings with it a penalty. It usually imposes duties and confers rights. It is a rule or mandatory provision, emanating from a regulatory authority, which is based on a valid legal norm that authorizes the production of this legislation. It regulates social relations or the conduct of humans who live in society. It differs from other social norms, as it has the characteristic of enforceability, the legitimate possibility of resorting to the use of socially organized force in the event of its default. It seeks to meet the specific purposes of the legal system: peace, order, and security. It differs from other rules of conduct in its capacity as heteronomous (imposed by others), bilateral (versus being obligated to comply with the rule, there is another power to enforce it), coercible (enforceable through tangible sanctions), and external (it is important to comply with the rule, regardless of being convinced of it).