Which are the phases of socialization ?

The phases of Socialization : Broadly speaking there are two phases of socialization as writes Giddens.

1. Primary socialization, and

2. Secondary socialization.

1. ‘Primary Socialization’ takes place in infancy and childhood.

(i) This is the most crucial stage of socialization as the basic pattern is learnt by the child at this stage. This stage consists of three sub-stages, (i) the oral stage (ii) the anal stage and (iii) the oedipal stage.

At first stage the infant builds up definite expectation about feeding time and learns to signal his/her pressing needs for care.

(ii) The second stage begins more or less after a year of infancy. The child at this stage is trained to take over some degree of care for himself/herself such as toilet training.

(iii) The third stage starts roughly from the fourth year and goes up to puberty. This is the period when child becomes a member of the family, as a whole.

2. The Secondary Socialization starts from the later stage of childhood and goes upto maturity. However, socialization never stops in life. The schools, peer groups and other agencies in which the person is placed in life, play the role of socialization.