Which term describes the initial learning of societal norms and values?

Primary socialization is the term that describes the initial learning of societal norms and values. This process typically occurs during early childhood and is largely facilitated by family members, where the child learns essential elements such as language, manners, and cultural expectations. It lays the foundational framework for a person’s social identity and helps them understand their role in society.

During primary socialization, individuals absorb the customs, beliefs, and behaviors of their culture, which significantly shape their personality and worldview. This stage is crucial as it forms the basis for any subsequent socialization processes that occur later in life, which are known as secondary socialization, where individuals continue to learn and adapt to new norms and values through different social contexts like school, peers, and media.

Cultural transmission, on the other hand, refers to the broader process through which cultural elements are passed from one generation to another, which encompasses both primary and secondary socialization stages. Role modeling involves individuals imitating behaviors of others, which is often a part of the socialization process but does not specifically denote the initial learning phase.