other and to other groups. The sociological perspective is based on the assumption that for a given collectively there is acollective reality that can be studied in it’s own right. Various cultures develop their own culturalpractices based on the traditions of their predecessors. In these societies, standards of behavior arepassed on from one generation to the next. Because of this, these various cultures all carry and practiceunique ideologies. The ideologies are developed by socialization. Socialization is the complex process by which individuals come to learn and perform behaviorexpected of them by society. Socialization teaches habits, ideas, attitudes, and values. This is one of theprinciple ways by which society preserve themselves. Learning plays an important part in socialization.A person must acquire a wide range of information and skills to participate in the activities of a family, aplay group, a school group, a business, or a political system. From the family, children learn such basicfunctions as proper etiquette, hygiene, and association with other peer groups. They also learn the basicvalues, beliefs, and goals of the family. For example, they learn what it is to be male or female, what tobelieve as truth and falsehood, and what to value in human relations. This process varies with differentcultural and ethnic backgrounds. This is what makes society so unique and profound. In most societies, socialization begins in infancy and continues throughout a person's life. Other agencies,especially the school, have taken over some of the socialization functions of the family. As individualsadvance through successive stages of school, they continually discard some attitudes and roles and takeon new ones. Other important elements that influence an individual's social behavior include friends andco-workers, religious institutions, television, motion pictures, and various kinds of reading matter. People learn much of their cultu...
