Socialization Process in Humanity

Human beings are social creatures. Through socializing with other humans we learn and acquire very important ideas and we discover how to incorporate them into our social interaction with others. The process of Socialization is the acquisition and learning that shapes our personality and molds our individuality early on in life. It is the most important social process. It begins at birth and continues throughout lifetime.

Socialization addresses many aspects of life in a society. It establishes our self-esteem. How much do we value ourselves? Through socialization we learn certain behaviors for a position in society; it is what allows us to function in the world. The process teaches us how to function in the world that we live in; it helps us fit into our society. It is crucial for us to realize that what makes us different from everybody else on this planet is our “self.” It is not the way we look, it is in our actions, values, personality – it is everything that makes up you.

Many theorists have described the early child development process, Socialization, and all of them agree that our interaction with others is what shapes and develops the “self.” According to Charles Cooley, “self” is a product of social interactions with others. We view ourselves based on what impressions we get from other people. We try to imagine how we present ourselves to other people. A philosopher George Herbert Mead also believed that “self” is connected to others. He spoke of three stages of development. Beginning with Preparatory Stage (birth – 2 years old), where children begin to understand the use of symbols, gestures, and language; followed by the Play Stage (age 3-7), where children pretend to be other people and they imitate adults; and ending with the Game Stage (age 8-9), where children actually begin to understand social positions and relationship position in society. Mead also adds that the crucial role in this
process is played by the “Significant Others” which includes adults closest to the child (parents, teachers, and friends) who have influence on shaping the self of the young person. Another group referred to as “Generalized Others” is the rest of society. The group teaches kids to shift the focus from them (or the “I”). Another theorist, Sigmund Freud tells us that personality develops by the age of five. He divides personality into three categories: the ID, the unconscious part that contains our sexual and aggressive urges; the Ego, which is the conscious part; and finally, the Super Ego, which is our social conscience. Freud explains that all three of them work together and they cannot operate separately. We make a decision depending how strong our Ego and Super Ego, they are what keeps in check our “ID.” Again, Freud says that it is the family that shapes the personality of a person.

Socialization is what determines and shapes our personality early on in life. It is the important process that consists of many steps. It is crucial to give kids the attention that they need, allow them to socialize with their peers and make sure that they have contact with the surrounding at all times. A member of a society that knows how the society functions is a success to both the parents as well as the society in general.