Introduction to Sociology/Socialization/Jungho Kang


1. Summary

 This article said 'Socialization'. In short, socialization is the process of preparing human beings for social life. In general, socialization is divided into two stages. Primary socialization occurs during childhood and adolescence. Secondary socialization means socialization that takes place throughout the whole of one 's life. In the first socialization, the identity of the individual develops, and it is in the second place that it is embodied. Other distinctions are broad and narrow socialization. Broad socialization promotes self-expression, and narrow socialization promotes obedience and compliance. However, this distinction is not well used.
 Socialization is very important for humans living in society to understand each other. Especially if they do not acquire proper socialization in their childhood, they may have some unfortunate things that do not understand the people around them. To understand socialization theoretically, there are symbolic interaction, role theory, strengthening theory, and internationalization theory. What is most important in understanding socialization? It is that socialization is culturally relative. Therefore, a person cannot evaluate socialization as right or wrong. Nonetheless, we are perceived as normal and abnormal.


2. Interesting Point

 “For instance, there is evidence that most children have innate empathy for individuals who are wilfully injured and consider it wrong. Thus, some aspects of human behavior that one might believe are learned, like empathy and morals, may, in fact, be biologically determined.” It is from this article. In the oriental idea, there are ‘性善說’(the theory that human nature is fundamentally good), ‘性惡說’(the theory that human nature is fundamentally evil), and ‘性無善惡說’(the theory that human nature is fundamentally good or evil). When I was high school student, I know that these ideas had many discussions. But the words in this article say that we are somewhat genetically good. This is like that of ‘性善說’ (the theory that human nature is fundamentally good)
 The three goals of socialization proposed by Arnett were like that of Freud’s idea. Freud distinguished human as id, ego, and super-ego. Socialization seems to be like Freud's super-ego. The super-ego method of controlling humans from within is like socialization, because it is impossible to adapt to complex societies with mere need fulfillment. Freud, of course, is interested in using social factors for social adaptation, although there are differences in the use of mythological elements for super-ego.


3. Discussion point

We go through a lot of resocialization in the process of secondary socialization. For Korean men, this is especially true of the military. The men who went to the army remove many of the elements that society learned to become a man that the military wants. So far, there is no big problem because it is a process to become a soldier. But the problem is after the army. Korean society is very similar to military culture. If you go to an army and come back to society, you need to be resocialized. Without such a process, you will apply the socialization process learned in the military as it is in society. This causes many problems in relation to the culture of Korean society at present. What are some ways to solve this? Do we need to change the atmosphere of society as a whole? Or should the individual try to change himself or herself?


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