LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY
LAGOS, NIGERIA
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
SOCIALISATION
It is the process by which the norms and values of a society are passed from one generation to
the other, In order to maintain social order and sustain the social structure.
When a child is born, he is said to be a blank slate, he has a virgin mind on which nothing about
what the society he was born into expect from him is written. He is a biological being who has
to be socialized to become a social being. Its process of socialization starts from the moment
the umbilical cord is cut. The child is washed and the mother places him by her breast for him
to suck the breast milk. Unconsciously, at this stage what the principal actors in the child’s life
are teaching him is that….. “have have your bath as at when due and you use your mouth to
eat henceforth since the umbilical cord through which you receive your food has been cut”.
Socialization is not a one – way thing or social relation. The individual being socialize, respond
positively or negatively to the process, this in turn impact on the socializing agent even as
improved means of socialization are involved. Furthermore, the process of socialization leads to
internalization.
Internalization occurs when the norms and values of the society becomes parts and parcel of an
individual and conforms to them even without questioning. Socialization does not occur all by
itself. It is perpetuated through certain social media generally referred to as Agents of
Socialization. They include;
Family institution
Religious institution
Economic institution
Political institution
Educational institution
Mass media
Peer groups
LAGOS, NIGERIA
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
SOCIALISATION
It is the process by which the norms and values of a society are passed from one generation to
the other, In order to maintain social order and sustain the social structure.
When a child is born, he is said to be a blank slate, he has a virgin mind on which nothing about
what the society he was born into expect from him is written. He is a biological being who has
to be socialized to become a social being. Its process of socialization starts from the moment
the umbilical cord is cut. The child is washed and the mother places him by her breast for him
to suck the breast milk. Unconsciously, at this stage what the principal actors in the child’s life
are teaching him is that….. “have have your bath as at when due and you use your mouth to
eat henceforth since the umbilical cord through which you receive your food has been cut”.
Socialization is not a one – way thing or social relation. The individual being socialize, respond
positively or negatively to the process, this in turn impact on the socializing agent even as
improved means of socialization are involved. Furthermore, the process of socialization leads to
internalization.
Internalization occurs when the norms and values of the society becomes parts and parcel of an
individual and conforms to them even without questioning. Socialization does not occur all by
itself. It is perpetuated through certain social media generally referred to as Agents of
Socialization. They include;
Family institution
Religious institution
Economic institution
Political institution
Educational institution
Mass media
Peer groups
