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Agents of Socialization

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AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION

Agents of socialization can also be defined as those people or groups within our social environment that affects or influence the orientation of an individual’s attitude, behaviour, emotion and self orientation either positively or negatively. They affect us directly or indirectly socially, mentally, emotionally and even on our self development. These groups are responsible for making and shaping our entire life in the society.

TYPES OF AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION They are mainly five agents of socialization in the society which affects us on a daily basis, these agents of socialization are;

The Family
The Religion
The School
The peer group
The Mass media

THE FAMILY:
The Family is the first group to have a great influence in our lives; they are the first form of socialization experience. The family are people we share the same genetics with in nature, they are people that can be said as the closest relations to us, they are grouped into two categories; Members of the immediate family and members of the extended family. The members of the immediate family consist of the spouse (husband/wife), parent, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters. While members of the extended family consist of the grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew and niece. In general the family members are people that can share personal experiences and information to one and another, which on normal condition wouldn’t share with others outside the family membership. They are believed to have the greatest impact on socialization process, It is from the family, we get to get to know who we are, fit into the society; learn languages, beliefs, religion and general culture. The family is the root of all socialization; it gives us the basic understanding as we grow up. The wealth and social status of the family also determines the life, job opportunity and

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