Chapter 7 Socialization Roles

My three definitions for Chapter 7 are socialization, controls, and roles. First, socialization is the process we go through to learn to be part of a group. We learn this process through our first interactions with others. For most people socialization is achieved at a young age, examples of where we may be socialized include; school, family, neighbors, and extra-circular activities. Socialization is imperative for us as humans, and for many other species in the animal kingdom, because it primes us for what is expected of us in our world. Imagine walking into a job interview and not knowing what to do when an employer offers their hand for a handshake. We are socialized to shake hands at a very young age as a way of greeting other people. A handshake can signal respect, as in the case of the employer, you respect them enough to shake their hand upon meeting. It can mean inclusion, as in shaking hands when meeting members of a club you join. Essentially, a handshake is a form of communication, as well as language and behavior, that we learn through the socialization process. Controls are a form feedback we receive from groups. The feedback …show more content…
They are tools of communication which tell us what our surrounding groups expect from us. But, just as we've seen with other topics in communication, the process is dually engaged. Just as socialization influences us, we may influence the process of socialization. When people become aware in a group that something isn't right, either logically, intuitively, or emotionally, this can result in a tide of change. For instance, in the example of the boy learning his role in school, if enough teachers and parents dissent against this view, the teaching of this particular role may change. It may no longer be a part of socialization for young males and a young man who has no interest in being handy will not be met with controls which punish him for his