Agents of Socialization

     Agents of socialization refers to groups, individuals, institutions and organizations that can shape people's behaviors, and expectations of life. These people and organizations can be anyone that someone comes into contact with, and might be influenced by.
     Especially kids can be influenced by the people who are around them. It has been said that kids learn by watching other kids and adults. This can be seen somewhat in the Bobo Doll Experiment, with the children doing what the adult had done before them.

     So as kids grow up, if they do not hear anyone saying that hateful or hurtful talk is wrong, or they hear it frequently from people in their lives, they might consider that to be normal. The schools that kids go to, the teachers, administrators and other students will help to shape how the kid will grow up. There was another point about how people can not separate themselves from their past, because their past was what shaped their lives. And the people who will have a large impact on others will help shape how those people think as/when they grow up.
     In psychology there seems to be a lot of debate as to the best way of raising children, but parents seem to be concerned with the influences that their children are exposed to. Based on what they are exposed to, then the concern seems to be what lessons the kids will take away from them.
     In my own life I have found that I do not act the same whether I am at work, in class, running errands or talking with my friends. Being at different places normally requires different levels of talking and interacting with other people. So the different places that a person is, a different personality they might be showing to the world.