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Socialization Processes

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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science
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Synonyms

Child-rearing; Parenting; Social development

Definition

Socialization refers to the ways in which new members of a group are assisted by older, more experienced, members to learn the values, attitudes, and appropriate behaviors of the group.

Introduction

Whenever they move into a new group, humans need to learn what is appropriate behavior in that group. This process of socialization goes on throughout the lifespan: Children learn how to behave in the home, at school, and while interacting with peers. As they become adolescents and adults, they move into new school settings and the workplace. As well they have to learn how to be marital partners, parents, and how, finally, to behave as an older member of society.

Most research has focused on socialization during childhood, as well as on the role of parents in that socialization. The focus on children reflects the fact that so much must be learned in this context, including regulation of emotions such as distress and anger,...

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Correspondence to Joan Grusec .

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Grusec, J. (2018). Socialization Processes. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2399-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2399-1

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