Socialization Across the Life Course
Socialization is a continuing, lifelong process. All societies have to deal with the life course that begins at birth and continues through old age and ultimately death. The life course for most individuals is as follows:
- Childhood
- Adolescence
- Young Adulthood
- Middle Adulthood
- Later Adulthood
Childhood: Though societies differ in their definitions of childhood, they all begin the socialization process as soon as possible. Parents/guardians begin this process as soon as the child is born. Two examples of how this begins is talking to children in the language you want the children to learn or buying toys that are specific for a child’s gender so that he or she will develop gender specific behavior.
The "social capital" contained within a family's environment is of vital consequence in channeling and shaping children's futures. In other words, a child's social class has a tremendous impact on the socialization that will take place. Parents who are able to provide learning experiences for their children at early ages have a positive effect on learning later in life. Ultimately, socialization at this level means learning the basics of what it means to be human in the culture in which the child resides.
Adolescence: In much of the world, adolescence is not a socially distinct period in the human life span. Children in many countries are socialized to assume adult responsibilities by age 13 and even younger in some instances. For American children, adolescence is not necessarily a turbulent period as is typically assumed. Also, a sharp generation gap separating adolescents from their parents always occur. This level of socialization is a continuation of teaching kids about how to carry themselves in society.
Of course, by this point in life, parents have moved beyond the basics as adolescents should be able to walk, talk, use the bathroom on their own, etc. There are usually a variety of other values and concepts that parents begin to address at this level, such as (but not limited to) importance of education, career ideas, health choices, drug and alcohol issues, and sex.
It is during adolescence that other agents of socialization begin to influence these children as much or more than parents. Peers become especially influential at this level through school activities and peer pressure. The mass media also has a profound effect on adolescences as it influences many choices and attitudes that they may have in everything from language choice to body image.
Young Adulthood: The developmental and socialization tasks confronting young adults revolve about the core tasks of work and love. Individuals are strongly influenced by age norms.
For example, because U.S. society expects young adults to marry in the mid to late 20's, young adults may begin to experience pressure from his or her family to marry and think about family.
Some social scientists have looked for stages through which young adults typically pass. Others believe that unexpected events play a more important role in development. Ultimately, it is during this period that people are expected to finish their education, find a mate, start a career, and become established. Because of the length of time that it takes to complete education and find a career, this time-table has been altered greatly in recent years.
It is not uncommon to see young adults in their mid to late 20's return "home" because they are having difficulty becoming established. This is a growing trend especially in areas where the cost of living is particularly high.
Middle Adulthood: Middle adulthood is a somewhat nebulous period. The core tasks remain much the same as they were in young adulthood. Increasingly, work is coming to be defined for both men and women as a badge of membership in the larger society. Although economic considerations predominate, people also work as a means to structure their time, interact with other people, establish a social life, and sustain a positive self-image. Ultimately, this stage in life is typically defined by career.
Adults may change careers many times over the course of adulthood. Each time this change happens, a certain amount of resocialization is necessary. Each organization one may work for has a different set of rules and expectations for its employees. Also, during this point in life, there are a variety of adjustments that may or may not occur that cause people to resocialize whether they want to or not. These adjustments may include, but are not limited to, having children, "empty nest" syndrome when children move out, losing a job, getting a divorce, and death of significant others.
Resocialization will certainly take place when an individual retires. Attitudes about health and eventual death also change. As a young person, many people feel almost invincible. In other words, they see themselves as having an entire life ahead of them. However, in later adulthood, death becomes more realistic. As people begin to lose family members and peers, death simply becomes an impending reality.
Later Adulthood: The last years of one's life may be filled with more dramatic changes than any previous stage. Retiring, losing one's spouse, becoming disabled, moving to a nursing home or other care facility, and preparing for death all require individuals to change and adapt. Societies differ in the prestige and dignity they accord the aged. It is at this stage of life where individuals begin to withdraw from certain aspects of their life.
Quality of life at this age becomes very important. Some may move into a smaller home that is more accessible if health problems occur; some travel a great deal while they have the chance; some pick up new hobbies or possibly find a new job to occupy time. There are a variety of other possibilities that could occur that all improve overall quality of life during later adulthood.
