Week 9-1. Introduction to Sociology/Socialization

1. Summary

Simply, socialization is a process of preparation that makes it possible for humans to live in human society. Socialization enables humans to control impulses, perform roles, etc. Socialization is generally similar in many societies, but there are factors that influence it's process. Race, class, sex, religion, etc. are factors that affect socialization. For example, the socialization process of a child raised in a Catholic family and a child raised in a Buddhist family is different. It may vary greatly depending on the situation and environment. Socialization doesn't develop everything in humans. Human beings already have innate functions. Such as, empathy and morality are also biological characteristics as well as the fruit  of the socialization. But basically, socialization is essential for humans to live in society.
Socialization is not limited to childhood. Socialization includes socialization of childhood, socialization of adolescence, and socialization of adulthood. Sometimes it can lead to crime if someone don't get socialized properly, or if problems arise in this process. So criminals who commit crimes need to be re-socialized, and the institution created for this re-socialization process is prison.
In other words, socialization has similar characteristics in most societies. For a prime example, most societies run prisons to re-socialize criminals. But most important is that the process and outcome of socialization are all different depending on culture and society.


2. Interesting

It was interesting about the link between socialization and death. Someone's death is a kind of social generational shift, but it is a great sadness for his neighbors and family. In this regard, I think socialization can be a kind of buffer. At one time I thought socialization functioned intensively in childhood and adolescence, but now I learned that humans will be exposed to socialization throughout their lives.


3. Discussion

Can the state artificially control socialization? (on the positive side), if possible, is this the right thing to do?


Written by Jaehoon Kim (김재훈)

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