Concept Essay

Concept Essay Unit 3

Word Count: 428

Sometimes our lives can become very complex and it is important to hold what is true dear to our hearts. Different individuals and groups influence us as human beings and can alter our thoughts of society and each other. These different factors are known as agents of socialization.

Agents of socialization are individuals or groups that affect our self concept, attitudes, behaviors, or other orientations toward life. (Henslin, 2010) To clarify some examples are family, peers, religion, school, and even the workplace.

I personally believe that family and peers are the most significant agents of socialization. Family most often are there for you through thick and thin and lifelong. Family establishes the norms of your specific family culture and traditions throughout the years as well as supports and influences us as human beings. (Henslin, 2010)

Another critical agent of socialization are peer groups. A peer group is a group of individuals of roughly the same age who are linked by common interests such as friends, classmates, and neighborhood children. (Henslin, 2010) I say critical because children are very influential and follow others so at this time it is very important to involve yourself with good people. "Show me your friends, and ill show you your future" is a quote is still posted on my mother's fridge and it makes sense especially in this area. No matter how many good traits are reinforced by family, it is still very possible to lose track of them if your peers are not on track. (Henslin, 2010)

I listed family first and during the critical years of development family is more important than friends in most situations however as the person grows and matures and hopefully has the right friends the roles switch. It then becomes the friends that you surround yourself with are more important because you are an adult and can relate to those people of similar ages. Family is still very important but sometimes they are not as close as we may like or want them to be so the next best thing is your friends, you real true friends that have your best interests in mind.

There are many agents of socialization to be considered that develop us differently depending on what we surround ourselves around. It is very important to remember we can change for the better and do more for others. It just depends on what we are willing to do to make those changes.

Works Cited

Henslin, James. (2010). Sociology. Boston, MA: Pearson Higher Education