Socialization v. Change

I am in sociology right now, and there are so many topics that could fill my blog that I've begun to write down particularly intriguing topics in a notebook to think more about later. So, a lot of posts will probably stem from that class. My prof would be so proud.

The process of socialization is the process by which we learn, accept and internalize social norms. Socialization is what teaches us that it's gross to pick your nose; first we learn that it is disgusting in all circumstances, then we learn that it is gross in public. It is the process of us accepting a set of "norms" of a given culture, society or group. When people join the military, they are re-socialized in the total institution that controls everything about their lives. They learn the new norm, and they internalize it.

Resocialization is usually done voluntarily, like in the military, but it can still be difficult. Accepting a different way of thinking, or processing, of living life can't come easily. Think about the formation of our country; they wanted power to rest in the people, but it was a revolutionary concept. The notion that there would be multiple branches that would somehow balance each other and would represent the changing will of the People. They feared the uneducated masses. They had no real reference for the type of government that was established. It was scary, and it took the entire country a long time to fully accept this government. Even now, there is debate over issues of federal versus state power. The process of accepting a new way of functioning, the context in which people would participate politically, the entire environment and structure of power... they wanted the change but it did not come easily.

Think about democratization in the Middle East. We think our form of government is the best for arguably legitimate reasons, and we are trying to set up a "modern" government in a matter of a few years that took our nation many to accept. The process of socialization takes more time than that. Not to mention the fact that if people do not want to change, they do not willingly internalize the resocialization!

So, what's the difference between change and socialization? Most obviously, change can be limited to a few things within a society whereas socialization is all-encompassing.

But, I think any form of change can require socialization.

When you get a driver's license, the way you act in a car needs to completely change. You can't sleep, and you start paying more attention to the things outside of the car. It revolutionizes that section of your life, your life inside a car when you are driving. When you get into an ensemble you have to internalize rehearsal schedules and conducting styles, and you have to adjust to a different group of people. When you go to college (arguably a total institution if you live on campus and eat in dining services), you have to accept being by yourself, learn to resolve differences with a roommate, and discover a whole new way to live life (eating based on a DS schedule, for example).

I think the main difference between change and socialization is that you don't have to like both. You can like one, the other, or neither. Some people like to experience new things, but they might not like to stay submerged in that new thing (traveling, for example). I, on the other hand, don't always like the process of adjusting to new things, but I find them fascinating. I can incorporate new technology, events and twists of life into my daily routine if I get past the awkward phase of resocialization. (Even though it's only resocialization in a small area of life, which technically isn't even resocialization.) I put myself in new situations as much as I can to try and get over the awkwardness of "the new," but I know that I can have that lack of comfort.

Think about the impact that accepting the concept of socialization v. change could have. It would not longer be "the past versus the future" in politics, relationships, or life. We could acknowledge that there's an awkward phase of adjusting to something new, and that phase is perfectly legitimate. We don't have to force 100% right now, because we know we'll get there eventually. As long as we keep moving towards a better _____, the size of the steps won't make or break the journey.