Peer groups are the agent of _______.

5 TYPES OF SOCIALIZATION

1. Primary Socialization

It happens during infancy and childhood. It refers to the process where the child becomes socialized through the family in the early childhood years. 

• This highlights that the key agent in the process of primary socialization is the family.
• For example, a very young child in a family has little knowledge of his culture. It is through the family that the child gets to know what is accepted and what is not in a particular society.

2. Secondary Socialization

It occurs once the infant passes into the childhood phase and continues into maturity. It refers to the process that begins in the later years through agencies such as neighbourhood, school and peer groups. 

• During this phase more than the family, some other agents of socialization like the neighbourhood, school and peers’ group begin to play a role in socializing the child.
• For example, Schools help children in learning the importance of social cohesion and unity and inculcating the informal cues about social roles through interaction.

3.Development Socialization

It is the process of learning behavior in a social institution or developing social skills

4. Anticipatory Socialization

It refers to the mental rehearsals, concrete plans, and subtle changes in values and perceptions that a significant change in social roles about to occur

5. Re-socialization

It refers to the process of discarding former behavior pattern and accepting new ones as part of a transition in one’s life. This occurs throughout the human life.

(Schaefer & Lamn, 1992)