Socialization – JSS1 Social Studies Lesson Note (Second Term)

Socialisation is the process by which a person is changed from a biological being into a social being.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. define socialisation and state its two types;
2. explain the processes of socialisation;
3. name the agents of socialisation;
4. state the importance of socialisation;
5. describe the effects of socialisation.

What is socialisation?

Socialisation is the lifelong process by which a society passes its knowledge, skills, customs and values from one generation to the next.

• Biological being: a person who is born with only physical needs, such as a newborn baby who needs food and warmth.
• Social being: a person who has learnt how to live with others, obey rules and play roles in society.
• Customs: the accepted ways a people do things, such as greeting elders by kneeling or bowing.
• Values: the things a society holds as good, such as honesty, respect and hard work.
• Norms: the rules of behaviour expected of members of a society.
• Aim: to help individuals take part in society, obey rules and develop throughout life.

What are the types of socialisation?

There are two types of socialisation: primary socialisation and secondary socialisation.

Primary socialisation

• Meaning: the first learning a child receives in early childhood.
• Main agent: the family, mainly parents and elders at home.
• Example: a child learns to speak the mother tongue, such as Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa, at home.

Secondary socialisation

• Meaning: the learning a person receives after early childhood, outside the home.
• Main agents: school, peer group, religious bodies, workplace and mass media.
• Example: a student learns to obey school rules and to work with classmates.

What are the processes of socialisation?

There are four processes of socialisation: education, apprenticeship, imitation and language.

Education

• Meaning: the various learning processes by which a society transmits its knowledge, skills, customs and values from one generation to another.
• Formal education: planned learning in schools with a syllabus and teachers.
• Informal education: learning from daily life, such as lessons from parents, elders and neighbours.

Apprenticeship

• Meaning: a situation whereby a person learns a skill, trade, practice, value, profession, custom, system or activity, mostly to earn a living.
• How it works: the learner (apprentice) works under an experienced person (master).
• Examples: learning tailoring, hairdressing, carpentry or motor mechanic work.

Imitation

• Meaning: copying another individual’s actions.
• Who imitates: mostly young children, who copy parents, older siblings and friends.
• Example: a girl copies her mother sweeping or cooking.

Language

• Meaning: the means through which culture is transmitted from parents to the child.
• Use: through speech, stories, proverbs and songs, a child learns what the society values.
• Example: folktales told by grandparents teach honesty and respect.

What are the agents of socialisation?

Agents of socialisation are the people and groups that teach a person the ways of society.

• Family: the first agent, teaching language, manners and basic values.
• School: teaches knowledge, discipline, punctuality and teamwork.
• Peer group: friends of the same age who teach social skills and shared interests.
• Religious bodies: churches and mosques teach moral values such as honesty, love and respect.
• Mass media: radio, television, newspapers and the internet pass on information and ideas.

What is the importance of socialisation?

Socialisation is important because it prepares a person to live well in society and keeps society stable.

• Human development: it transforms a biological being into a social being.
• Personal growth: it contributes to the development of a person.
• Discipline: it enables an individual to become disciplined.
• Roles: it helps an individual to enact different roles, such as child, student, parent or worker.
• Aspirations: it helps an individual to develop the right aspirations in life.
• Social order: it contributes to the stability of social order.
• Equality: it reduces social discrimination.
• Values: it promotes societal values.
• Future: it helps in building a brighter future.
• Skills: it provides knowledge of skills.

What are the effects of socialisation?

The effects of socialisation are the changes it brings in a person’s habits, attitudes and behaviour.

• Useful skills: it provides individuals with the skills and habits necessary for participating in their society.
• Obedience: it helps an individual to obey rules and regulations within his or her environment.
• Empathy: it helps an individual to learn how to empathise and show compassion towards others.
• Orderliness: it teaches an individual how to be orderly and follow instructions, especially in public affairs.
• Friendship: it helps an individual to develop friendship and social skills beneficial throughout life.
• Cultural continuity: it helps to transmit social and cultural values and norms to future generations.

Evaluation

1. Define socialisation.
2. Explain the processes of socialisation.
3. Name any three agents of socialisation.
4. Discuss any four importance of socialisation.
5. What are the effects of socialisation?

Assignment

Explain the four processes of socialisation, and state three effects of socialisation on an individual.