Understanding Socialization
One of the most important concepts in sociology is socialization. It plays a vital role in shaping who we are as individuals and how we function in society. In simple terms, socialization is the process through which we learn the norms, values, behaviors, and roles that are necessary to participate in social life.
- Primary socialization
- Secondary socialization
What Is Primary Socialization?
Primary socialization takes place during early childhood and is carried out by those who are closest to us—mainly our family members and close relatives. These are the people who first teach us how to behave in a way that is acceptable to our culture and society.
- If a child eats carelessly or throws food around, a family member may say, "This is not how you should eat."
- This is where the child learns table manners, proper etiquette, and how to behave while eating.
- Whether one eats with hands or utensils like a fork and spoon is taught depending on cultural traditions.
This process varies from one society to another. A child born in Chinese culture, for instance, will experience different forms of primary socialization than a child born in India or Sri Lanka. Through this process, we learn how to dress, how to speak, and how to behave—becoming individuals who are shaped to fit into our respective societies.
What Is Secondary Socialization?
Secondary socialization takes place later in life and involves social institutions outside the family. This includes schools, workplaces, religious institutions, peer groups, and the media.
- The media teaches us what kind of clothing is fashionable, what type of mobile phone is trendy, and what lifestyle is seen as desirable.
- Watching TV shows or teledramas may influence how we talk, act, or interact with others, often without us even realizing it.
- Religious institutions—such as temples, churches, and mosques—also guide behavior. You might be taught to remove your shoes before entering a place of worship or to dress modestly in such spaces.
Workplaces have rules and expectations that teach you how to act professionally.
Friends and social circles also contribute to shaping your behavior and values over time.
In short, secondary socialization helps us adjust to different layers of society as we grow older.
How Socialization Shapes Us
Through both primary and secondary socialization, we develop our identity—our sense of who we are. Whether you identify as a Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Sinhalese, Tamil, or whether your role in society is as a teacher, soldier, artist, or engineer—all of this is shaped by the socialization process.
This process plays a central role in social cohesion, which refers to how people in a society come together, interact, and support each other in maintaining harmony and order. The more effective the socialization, the more integrated and functional the society becomes.
Why Socialization Matters in Sociology
- How societal norms and values are taught and maintained
- How individuals adapt to new social roles over time
- How identity and group belonging are formed
Socialization is a lifelong process that begins from the moment we are born. Through primary socialization, we are molded by our families. Through secondary socialization, society at large continues to shape our behavior and beliefs. Together, these layers help us grow into individuals who can function effectively within our cultural and societal context.
Berger, P. L., & Luckmann, T. (1966). The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge. Garden City, NY: Anchor Books.
Giddens, A. (2006). Sociology (5th ed.). Cambridge: Polity Press.
Grusec, J. E., & Hastings, P. D. (2015). Handbook of Socialization: Theory and Research (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press.
Senior Lecture,
Department of Social Sciences,
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.
Sri Lanka.