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Chapter 2 Your Growth and Development
Socialization and Roles
Socialization is the way you learn the
behavior that society accepts. This learning
process, which includes the beliefs and standards
of your society, begins with your family.
In your family, you learn what will be
expected of you in the many roles you will have
in life. A role is a way of acting to fulfill certain
responsibilities. One role you have now is that of
son or daughter. In this role, you may be expected
to talk to your parents, show them love and
respect, and help do household tasks. At school,
your role of student means that you must act in
a certain way. You are expected to participate in
class, read assignments, write papers, and take
exams. Your future roles might include husband
or wife, parent, employee or employer, and
community leader. Each of these roles will have
certain responsibilities.
Some of these moral principles are taught to
you by parents and family members. They teach
you acceptable behavior, which is often based
on the family’s religious beliefs. These standards
serve to guide and protect you, your family, and
others.
When people make choices that benefit only
themselves, usually someone is hurt. It may even
be the person making the choice. For instance,
they may be taking work that someone else did
and claim it as their own. They may take money
that belongs to someone else. In both examples,
people are hurt, and problems with the law
could result. Ethical behavior protects everyone’s
welfare.
Character Traits
What are some of the inner traits or moral
qualities that define a person’s character and
contribute to ethical behavior?
‚ Self-discipline is one. This is the ability to
control your behavior. For instance, can you
control your desire to watch television until
your homework is done? This takes self-
discipline. Self-discipline is also referred to as
self-control.
‚ Dependability means that you are reliable
and true to your word. If you tell a friend to
meet you at a certain time and place, are you
always there on time? If you do what you
promise, you are dependable.
‚ Being responsible means answering for your
behavior and obligations. For instance, how
well do you do your part when working on a
group assignment? Do you get your part done?
Do you complete it on time? Are you careful
and thorough so your share of the task is done
well? This shows you are responsible, 2-8.
‚ Integrity means honesty. Honest people can
be trusted because they are truthful. If you
are honest, other people know they can
believe what you say. For instance, when
honest students say they have done their own
homework, their teachers believe them. When
an honest person takes a test, he or she can
be trusted not to cheat. These are examples of
integrity.
‚ Motivation is a drive that moves a person
to do a task, sometimes beyond what is
expected. Manuel offers to carry Lori’s books.
What roles do you have in your family?
Use What You Learn
By observing family members and interacting
with them, you learn how to respond to various
life situations. You learn what is important, what
guidelines to use, and what actions are acceptable.
Young people develop socially as they adopt
these beliefs and standards as their own. Part
of this process includes thinking about and
questioning parents’ standards. By providing
answers and reasons for their standards and
beliefs, parents can help children understand
their future roles.
Character and Ethics
Character is developed as part of the
socialization process. Your character serves as
your personal judge for every situation you face.
Certain desirable traits are found in persons who
have strength of character. These traits help them
make choices that benefit not only themselves,
but also others around them and society as a
whole.
Ethics are the moral principles or standards
that you use to judge what is right and wrong.
Society sets some of these standards in the form
of laws to protect everyone’s welfare.