A brief note on socialization and anticipatory socialization

Hussein Ali^*
*Correspondence: Hussein Ali, Department of Anthropology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States, Email:

Received: 25-May-2022, Manuscript No. GJSA-22-56205; Editor assigned: 31-May-2022, Pre QC No. GJSA-22-56205 (PQ); Reviewed: 14-Jun-2022, QC No. GJSA-22-56205; Revised: 20-Jun-2022, Manuscript No. GJSA-22-56205 (R); Published: 27-Jun-2022

Description

Socialization

Socialization refers to the lifelong process of inheriting and disseminating practices, cultures and ideas that provide one with the skills needed to participate in society. Socialization is an on-going process throughout one’s life. Some social scientists have suggested that the social order represents the lifelong learning process and is a major factor in the behaviour, beliefs and practices of both adults and children.

The social process can be divided into primary and secondary social networks. Primary socialization occurs when a child learns the attitudes, values, and actions that are appropriate for people as members of a particular culture. This is especially true of close family and friends. Secondary socialization is the process of learning what is appropriate behaviour as a member of a small group within a larger community. Behavioural patterns are reinforced by social agents such as schools and workplaces. For example, as new employees form relationships in an organization, they learn about its history, values, jargon, culture and processes.

Primary socialization occurs early in life, as a child and adolescents. Secondary socialization refers to cohabitation that occurs throughout one’s life, both as a child and when one meets new groups that need more coexistence. Although there are scholars who argue that one or more of these things happen, many social scientists often combine the two, arguing that basic human identity develops during basic social life, and the subsequent changes that occur later. The need for coexistence in the afterlife may stem from a growing social problem and a corresponding increase in the roles of different roles and responsibilities.

Anticipatory socialization

Anticipatory socialization is a process in which non-group members adopt the values and standards of the groups they wish to join, in order to facilitate their entry into the group and help them work more effectively once they are accepted. It involves a change in a person’s attitude and behaviour in order to prepare for a change in his role. Practices commonly associated with expected socialization include grooming, imitation, training, and exercise. Examples of expected social issues include law school students who learn how to behave as lawyers, adults who are preparing to retire, and Mormon boys who are preparing to become missionaries.

Anticipatory socialization was first described by sociologist Robert K. Merton. Its origins are based on a 1949 U.S. military study that found that individuals who measure their attitudes and behaviour toward those of officers are more likely to be promoted than those who are not promoted.

When people are denied access to a group they may have wanted to join, they reject the values and principles of that group. Instead, they started a process of communicating with the expected people and the groups that received the best. Another example of this is the story of the economically disadvantaged youth who want to become drug dealers instead of professionals. While some critics may say that these people are uninspired, some sociologists claim that they are simply making real changes in the opportunities available to them.