Define socialization. Explain the role of socialization in personality formation.

I. Dentition of Socialization : It is a process in whicn a child learns customs, traditions, norms, values of a group.

II. Role of Socialization in Personality Formation :

1. Socialization is a lifelong process but the most important aspect of this process starts during infancy. By the time individuals becomes adult, the major part of socialization is completed.

2. Socialization makes a human individual a social being, without socialization, individuals would not behave like human beings.

3. Even the human style of speaking and modes of coummunication are the function of socialization.

4. The process of socialization and personality development begins right from the time when the newly born baby first comes into contact with his family members.

5. Right from the very childhood, an individual learns and internalises the role structure and develops his/her own ‘self’. Internalization takes place through the process of socialization. Much of the personality of an indiviual is shaped in this way. The individual learns this part of culture pattern unconsciously.

6. There is another part of culture which an individual learn consciously. This learning process starts at a later stage when the formal teaching in school starts. There he learns about a more complicated part of culture such as the history of culture, the nature of government, the cultural heritage and so on.

7. The child training results into adult personality. The variations in personality dispositions among human individuals are directly related with the training pattern during their childhood.

8. It is proved that there is close link between child training and adult personality but it does not mean that the former is the cause and the later the effect.