Meaning of Socialisation

Human society is not an external phenomenon but

exists solely in the minds of its members. The human

infant comes into the world as a biological organism

with animal needs. He is gradually moulded into a

social being and he learns social ways of acting and

feeling. Without this process of moulding the society

could not continue itself, nor could culture exist, nor

could the individual become a person. This process of

moulding is called ‘socialisation’. It is through the

process of socialisation that an individual becomes a

social person and attains personality.

Socialisation involves inducting the individual into the

social and cultural world, of making him a particular

member in society and its various groups and inducting

him to accept the norms and values of that society.

Socialisation is a matter of learning that enables the

learner to perform social roles.