Who are you and how do you become YOU?

Socialization is a process of learning norms, rules, regulations, values and attitudes of society. It is a lifelong process which starts from childhood till to the death of a person. Socialization is a vital process of learning through which the society exists. Each and every society socializes its members according to its own values. For example, if a baby enters in American society, he/she socializes according to the characteristics of American society. In the same way, the children of Russian societies are being socialized according to the characteristics of Russian societies. A man learns ways of attitudes, behaviors, languages, and cultures of a society through the process of socialization.

What is human nature? The debate of "nature" (heredity) and "nurture" (the social environment) is being made since decades. Some scientists think that nature plays an important role in the socialization while others view that nurture is only the way through which a member can be socialized. To answer this controversial question, one can give logical reasons that human beings do not have natural language. An infant comes in this society having only bones, flesh, and breathing system. If this very infant kept in isolation for several years, he/she cannot be able to speak even a single word. Heredity provides those essential things which are important to grow up but social environment is far important than heredity through which a children learns the language. Without the concept of language a member cannot create relationships with others. Language is a source to create relationships and to take part into the social interaction. So, nurture or social environment is so much important that it converts an animal into a social animal.

Cooley and the looking-Glass self

Charles Hurton Cooley was a renowned social scientist who thought that our sense of self develops from interaction with others. To describe this process, Cooley coined the term "looking- glass self theory" in the year 1902. According to Cooley, there are three elements in the looking-glass self theory.

1. We imagine how we appear to the others. For example, we can guess that others see us as intelligent or stupid.

2. We interpret others' reactions. We may come to know that how others evaluate us. Do they like us for being intelligent? Do they dislike us for being stupid?

3. We develop a self-concept. After the reactions of others, we develop feelings and ideas about ourselves. 

Looking-glass self theory is like a "social mirror" in which a person can see his/her reflection. This process of self development clearly shows us the image of our personality. We can judge our personality by feedback of others. So, the process of looking-glass self plays an important role in the process of socialization.

 Agents of socialization Agents of socialization are the people and groups which influence our emotions, attitudes and behavior etc. Family, religion, day care, school, peer groups and workplace are the agents of socialization that prepare us to take our place in society.

• Family

Family is an important agent of socialization where a child starts learning the language of family. Slowly and gradually a children learns the roles of family members. He/she recognizes the roles of father, mother, sisters and brothers. It has been seen that most of the children follow the roles of others like putting on glasses and reading newspapers as their parents do.

• Religion

Religion is also an important agent of socialization where an individual learns about right and wrong. Religions provide basic ideas of morality which become the part of our life in future. Religion teaches us about the way of dressing, speech, and manners which are suitable for us in formal occasions.

• Day care

Day care is another agent of socialization in which the children are being socialized and benefited by the others. It has been become a tradition in every society to hire a person for daily wages to take care of the children. Day care process stimulates the intellectual personality of children.

• The school and peer groups

The school and peer groups are the agents of socialization where a child meets with a large group of people of similar age. Apart from education, the students are linked with each other for common interests. In this way of sharing ideas and common interests, students find peer groups for themselves and they start learning from those peer groups. Friends, clubs, gangs, and the neighbors are some examples of the peer groups. While entering into a school and peer group a member starts learning new norms and characteristics like athletics ability, coolness, toughness physical appearance and attraction etc.

• The workplace

Workplace is another agent of socialization in which an individual enters into a mature age. Apparently, workplace is place where an individual serves as an employer and earns a few dollars. Besides this, an employer has lot of opportunities to learn essential things for future. It has been seen that co-workers always advise about the future plans and lifestyles. It can be said that it is a sort of rehearsal for future activities. Therefore, it is proved that workplace is an agent of socialization where an individual has the opportunity to learn a lot.