SOC101 Lecture : Lecture 5
7 Apr 2014
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Document Summary
Family is often regarded as the first most important agent of socialization. Family experiences are influenced by many factors including the age which parents have children, social class, ethnicity and family size. People are affected by their sorroundings, but they interpret their experience: this is called reciprocal socialization. The peer group is often regarded as the second most important agent in socialization. Although peers may not intent on socializing us, they affect us because they provide companionship and approval. Adolescence is a time when peer influence is quite strong. Peers allow youth to develop their identities and the may reinforce both positive and negative affects. Research shows that peer pressure is a relatively short-term influence. School provide unique environments separate from family. Government considers the family as a deficient agent of socialization, why children start school at such an early age. Although student-teacher interactions are important, schools play a role at the macro level.
