The process of socialization is a slow and strong one, with most of the knowledge and prejudices being a result of this process. Knowingly and unknowingly, casually or predominantly, we as a society have laid down certain traditional rules which we popularly term as culture, and which we pursue in everyday life. This process of age-related socialization begins rather early in an infant’s life, for instance, when an infant is gradually put on an external food or milk diet at the approximate age of about three and a half to four months. When the child is about six months old, the semi-solid to solid diet begins. Thus we can say that age is definitely an important criterion for socialization to occur since there are innumerable changes that take place in the body of a human being, which have a crucial effect in determining the accurate time to initiate new functions.
The prime agents of age-related socialization are parents. Society takes a secondary place in embedding the beliefs of age-related socialization, although it is the most important agent in setting the rules.
I too have experienced being socialized in life many times and in the course, there were certain very crucial experiences that have left an indelible mark on my mind.
When I was twelve years old and was on the threshold of youth, the process of my socialization (I was ignorant then) began at a more rapid and aggressive pace than before. I was told specifically to take my religion more seriously and with greater sincerity and dedication. I was given special lessons so that I could learn the basic codes of conduct from the religious point of view. This indeed has become the most crucial turning point of my life, for I learned the values, morals, and ethics, which have today contributed heavily to my success and are the reason why I am the person I am today. The religious practices taught me to be disciplined in life, to respect all elders and seniors and a host of other values were deeply instilled in me, which have made me the acceptable and popular human being that I am today. I have witnessed some of my friends and colleagues who did not have the privilege of being brought up in the fine manner that I was, and today are facing troubles and problems due to their loose and crude behaviors. The persons or the sociological agents, in this case, were my mother (verbal), and father (non-verbal). However, as time passed and experience taught me several things in life, I realized that this socialization has been highly instrumental in laying the foundations of my morals and ethics for leading a decent and successful life.
Another instance of age-related socialization I experienced rather early in my life is the virtues of good health. Even while I was a very young boy, about seven to eight years old, my agents of socialization, my parents, would spend a good amount of quality time with me. It was during these long hours of discussion that I was shown by example the benefits of staying healthy and how good health could be acquired and maintained. Utmost stress and importance were laid on abstinence from smoking and drinking. When I entered college and my circle of friends diversified and increased, my parents often reiterated the virtues and benefits of refraining from smoking and consuming liquor. I had, however, by then, formed very strong opinions regarding these fatal habits, and today when I witness the sad deaths of the dynamic people due to these fatal habits, I am indeed grateful to my parents, for having socialized me to stay away from these evils at the appropriate age.
The age to drive is primarily decided by the government of any country, and in this case, the agents of socialization are the government officials and their policies. I too acquired my learner’s license at the age of sixteen years but took to the wheels only when I was 18 years old. Complying with the agents of socialization was a pre-requisite since it helps to solve many problems and also enables the development of an obedient and law-abiding attitude, in an individual. Although the primary agents of socialization, in this case, are the government officials and laws, I cannot rule out the role of parents, family, and society in inculcating these values and morals in me, at the right age and the right time.
Thus we see that no matter what the socialization process may be, the credit, most of the time must go to the primary and most important agents of socialization, the parents. In doing so, they not only instill good values and ethics in the lives of individuals but also teach you the most important doctrine in life. There is a correct time and place for doing everything, for if it were not so, there would be no discipline in life.