Socialisation – JSS1 Social & Citizenship Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Subject: Social and Citizenship Studies

Class: JSS 1

Topic: Socialisation: How We Learn to Live with Others

What is Socialisation?

Have you ever wondered why you know how to use a spoon, why you say “Good morning” to your parents, or why you know that stealing is wrong? You weren’t born knowing these things! You learned them through a process called Socialisation.

Socialisation is the lifelong process by which an individual learns the habits, skills, beliefs, and “rules” (norms) of their society.

It is how a baby grows from being just a “human being” into a “social being” who can interact, work, and live peacefully with others. It starts the day you are born and continues until the day a person passes away.

The Agents of Socialisation

“Agents” are the people or organisations that do the teaching. They are the “teachers” of life’s unwritten rules.

1. The Family (The Primary Agent)

The family is your first window to the world.

• What they teach: Your first language, how to eat, how to dress, and basic manners (like respect for elders).
• Why they are special: They provide the foundation of your character before you meet anyone else.

1. The School

Once you are old enough, you join the school. Here, socialization becomes more formal.

• What they teach: Punctuality (being on time), how to follow a timetable, how to compete fairly, and how to relate with people from different backgrounds.

1. Religion (Church and Mosque)

In Nigeria, religion plays a big role in how we behave.

• What they teach: Moral values like honesty, fear of God, kindness, and forgiveness. They help shape what we believe is “holy” or “sinful.”

1. The Mass Media

This includes Television, Radio, the Internet, and Social Media (like WhatsApp or TikTok).

• What they teach: Information about the world, new fashions, and different ways of thinking.
• Warning: The media can teach good things (knowledge) or bad things (violence or bad language), so we must be careful what we watch!

Importance of Socialization

Why do we spend so much time learning how to be social?

1. It Builds Character: It helps you develop a personality and a sense of “who you are.”
2. Peaceful Co-existence: If everyone knows the rules of the society, there will be less fighting and more peace.
3. Preserving Culture: It is through socialization that our parents pass down our traditions (like our local languages and festivals) to us. Without it, our culture would die.
4. Skill Acquisition: You learn how to talk, write, and do work through interaction with others.
5. Sense of Belonging: It makes you feel like you are part of a “group” (a family, a school, or a nation).

The Two Sides of Socialisation

Socialisation can be Positive or Negative:

• Positive Socialisation: When you learn good things like hard work, respect, and honesty. This makes you a “Good Citizen.”
• Negative Socialisation: When someone learns bad habits like cultism, drug abuse, or lying from bad friends or bad media. This makes life difficult for the individual and the society.

Summary Checklist

• [ ] I can define socialisation as a “lifelong learning process.”
• [ ] I know that the family is the first and most important agent.
• [ ] I can list at least 3 things I have learned from my school and religion.
• [ ] I understand that without socialisation, we wouldn’t know how to live together.

Classroom Activity / Homework

1. Identify one thing you learned from the Family and one thing you learned from the Media.
2. Why is the Family called the “Primary Agent” of socialization?
3. Think & Share: If a child was raised alone in a forest by animals, would they be “socialized”? Explain your answer.