4.4b Socialization in Families

Families are the first agent of socialization and are the primary providers of socialization for children. Parents, siblings, and other relatives teach children the values and norms of their family and the broader culture associated with their social class, gender, race, ethnicity, and other sociodemographic factors (see Chapters 7, 8, and 9).

Socialization is not one way (parent to child). Children also socialize their parents. For example, parents of children who begin playing a sport their parents are unfamiliar with will be socialized into the sport by other parents and their children. For instance, parents learn to yell loudly during ice hockey and be less vocal during a tennis match. If parents are not cheering correctly, their children will usually tell them. This communication helps children socialize their parents into the sport. 

Parents may also engage in anticipatory socialization for some young athletes, assuming (often incorrectly) that their young athlete will secure a college scholarship to play their sport. Parents may research what it takes to be a college athlete and work to prepare their child for the chance. Anticipatory socialization is learning the norms associated with future roles (like going from a child athlete to a college athlete).

Photo 4.13

A Mother Drives Her Children to and from Sporting Competitions