Title: The Role of Socialization | Boundless Sociology
Headings: The Role of Socialization
The Role of Socialization
The Role of Socialization
Key Points
Key Terms
Three Goals of Socialization
Nature vs. Nurture: A False Debate
Key Points
Key Terms
Sociobiology
Key Points
Key Terms
Deprivation and Development
Key Points
Key Terms
Isolation and Development
Key Points
Key Terms
Feral Children
Key Points
Key Terms
Depictions of Feral Children
Feral Children in Reality
Examples of Feral Children
Institutionalized Children
Key Points
Key Terms

Content: Second, socialization teaches individuals how to prepare for and perform certain social roles—occupational roles, gender roles, and the roles of institutions such as marriage and parenthood. Third, socialization cultivates shared sources of meaning and value. Through socialization, people learn to identify what is important and valued within a particular culture. The term “socialization” refers to a general process, but socialization always takes place in specific contexts. Socialization is culturally specific: people in different cultures are socialized differently, to hold different beliefs and values, and to behave in different ways. Sociologists try to understand socialization, but they do not rank different schemes of socialization as good or bad; they study practices of socialization to determine why people behave the way that they do. Nature vs. Nurture: A False Debate
Is nature (an individual’s innate qualities) or nurture (personal experience) more important in determining physical and behavioral traits?