Understanding Human Socialization Stages and Mechanisms

Two Phases of Socialization

Socialization occurs in two main phases:

Primary Socialization

Primary socialization happens during early childhood. Parents teach the organization of time (e.g., lunch breaks, rest periods), the language of symbolic communication, and rules of conduct through positive and negative reinforcement (rewards and punishments). This phase is characterized by an intense emotional charge. Mechanisms involve early identification with cultural elements. The organization of time and space, and the sense of familiarity produced naturally, foster ontological security. This implies the internalization of cultural values in a natural, common-sense manner.

Conventional Primary Socialization

Within primary socialization, the conventional aspect aligns with evolutionary psychology. This responds to submission to authority that possesses coercive capability, whether material or emotional. Adults, parents, and teachers are the first to impose rules simply by virtue of their authoritative status. Through the internalization of authority, the repressing mechanism called the superego arises. This has the ability to censor morally inappropriate behavior.

Postconventional Primary Socialization

Postconventional primary socialization occurs in the context of interactions among peers. It involves an abstraction of specific roles and attitudes of others into general concepts, seeking a justifying reason for them. Planning ways of conduct is replaced by recreating the generalized other; this generalized other informs us how others will react before we commit an action.

Mechanisms of Control

• In the authoritarian model of control, the mechanism is blame, which works against the superego and can bankrupt our sense of identity.
• In the peer model, the mechanism at work is the feeling of shame, which reflects the esteem others place on our behavior.

Secondary Socialization

Secondary socialization occurs when individuals take on different responsibilities within the division of social functions; this is professional identification. Ultimately, it involves acquiring specific knowledge to perform specialized roles in the division of social work. This requires a long learning process, often facilitated by the formal education system. There is typically less emotion involved in this process. Postconventional socialization also occurs here, often through the hidden curriculum.

Socialization Agents of New Generations

The last agents of socialization for new generations include:

• Media
• Internet
• TV
• Video games

These agents transmit values and behavioral patterns that individuals then enact.