MODULE 7

SOCIALIZATION, SOCIAL PROCESS, INTERACTION AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Sociologists define socialization as the process when a person has learned to develop his potentials and
has adapted to his society and culture in order to exist, and thereby shaping his self-image in relation
with society Socialization also encourages desirable behavior and discourages objectionable acts. Social
process is any mutual interaction between an individual and his group for the purpose of solving
problems and to attain desired objectives. Social Interaction can be considered as part of social process.
It is the form of action and reaction through which people and organizations relate to one another. It is
concerned with the dynamic aspect of society.

Forms of Social Process

1 Conjunctive process- this is the group's effort to practice cooperation, accommodation, amalgamation,
assimilation, and acculturation for the purpose of maintaining its viability and usefulness. Cooperation to
the group is classified as Informal (voluntary and spontaneous), formal (set by rules, rights and
obligations of membership), and symbiotic (for mutual interests and benefits of members) cooperation.

2. Disjunctive process is when members of the group direct their efforts towards opposition, disunity,
disorganization, and the disintegration of the group. An integral part of the disjunctive is conflict, which
according to Coser (1968) is the *struggle over values or claims to status, power, and scarce resources in
which the claims of the-conflicting parties are not only to give the desired values but also to neutralize,
injure and eliminate rivals." Conflict is classified into war, feud or factional struggle, litigation or legal
battle, and conflict of impersonal ideas.

Conflict Resolutions

1. Arbitration or mediation- conflicts are resolved out of court by the decision of a third party, of which
the conflicting parties must agree.

2. Compromise- it is achieved when the conflicting parties agree to settle for less than what they
originally demanded.

TYPES OF SOCIAL INTERACTION

1 Structural Interaction-as described in earlier chapters, sociology is a structure consisting of interrelated

2. Cultural Interaction-the cultural aspects (common traditions, beliefs, ideas, practices in common
patterns of behavior) are usually one of the main concerns .In the study of social relationship. How does
an Ilocano interact with a Bicolano in matters of food preferences?
3. Religious Interaction -.-the strong influence of religion on Filipinos plays a vital role in their social
interaction. Catholics will follow their Bishops, while the Muslims obey and revere their Imams. Can a
Muslim guest manage to interact with others in a Christian feast whe pork? re most of the food served is

4. Geographical Interaction- means that social interaction is influenced and affected by geographical
factors. Geographical considerations such as location (coastal, near coastal, highland, lowland,
hinterland, etc) produce certain beliefs and practices for some people that these must be taken into
account by any individual in the process of social interaction. How do the lowlanders of Cagayan interact
with the highlanders of the Cordilleras? Knowledge of both the geography and culture of the Cagayanos
and the Cordillera tribes would facilitate social interaction

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZATION

1. FAMILY- as the primary unit of society, the family is the first teacher of the basic values (love, morality,
justice, freedom, civic consciousness, etc) in every individual's life.

2. SCHOOL- the school as the second home of children perpetuates the correct values, norms and other
social standards that are beneficial to both the individual and society during the teaching-learning
process.

3 WORK PLACE-every job or employment has its attendant rules and regulations on harmonious
socialization and interaction among employer and employees.

4.. CHURCH-all religions promote not only the spiritual welfare of its members but also foster their
harmonious relations with their fellowmen, or what they call "fellowship" for the brotherhood of men

5. MASS MEDIA- Print and broadcast media help in the socialization p‘ocess as a link or conduit
forpeople of even diverse creed, ethnicity, ideology, etc to understand better their individual and
respective aspirations and differences.

6. GOVERNMENT/POLITICS- Aristotle once said that man is a political animal. Political socialization helps
individuals to develop public awareness of social issues and concerns, which win make them responsible
and civic- minded citizens of our republic

7. PEER GROUPS-members of peer groups have common interests and persuasions, social position and
age. Peer group arises from the individual's need to belong. Peer pressure, however, produces
nonconformity that may be prejudicial to an individual member in relation to society.

SOCIAL CHANGE

The only permanent thing in this world is change. Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher considered change
as the only constant concept. Panopio (1994) defines change as a means, a process or an end. It can be
an ideology or a doctrine. It maybe the adoption of new objects and materials to attain certain goals
SOURCES OF SOCIAL CHANGE

1. The physical environment --changes in the physical environment (climate, terrain, depletion of physical
and natural resources, and other environmental degradation) definitely will alter the peoples' lifestyles
and patterns. Drastic natural calamities brought by volcanic eruptions, typhoons and floods result in
peoples' deaths, diseases, and displacement that severely affect the economic and social wellbeing of
families in the ravaged area.

2. Population- Malthusians believe that overpopulation will deplete the earth's natural resources and
naturally this will lead to scarcity of resources, especially food.

3. Technology- The level of the development of science and technology in a country reflects on the
standard of living of the people

4. Conflict- popularized by Marx, conflict produces a new order from the struggle between exploited and
the exploiting class.

5. Ideology- Ideologies are always used by social movements as their theoretical guides and weapons to
achieve social change.

6. Collective behavior-This type of behavior can be harnessed when people had a common perception or
perspective of issues, events or other public concerns that needed immediate resolve. The Edsa 1 and
Edsa 2 are examples of spontaneous display of an indignant collective behavior.

CAUSES OF SOCIAL CHANGE

1. Physical, psychological and sociological needs of man- . the continuous struggle of man for his
existence centers on the satisfaction of these basic needs. Man, since the beginning, strived to improve
the vitality a his .ancl in „outer .fr.r) arbieme .tv made .Rem siiccomer.iEtA inventions, and diffusion that
had brought radical social changes affecting him.

2. Conflict and Social Inequality- the Law of contradiction or conflict theory as propounded by the early
sociological writers particularly Marx states that from the abolition or destruction of the old order
emerge new changes or order — the inevitable result of every conflict.

3. Ideas-An idea cannot be killed by anything but a better idea. Man's continued struggle for perfection
was influenced first, by ideas of Greek philosophers and later by modern thinkers. The Ideas of
Hippocrates revolutionized medicine; the scientific ideas of Copernicus not only radically change
European and Galileo did ropean concept of Astronomy but also re-oriented Church doctrine about the
Universe.

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
Social movements emerged when competition developed among _oanized groups. Social disorganization
and discontent also encourages the rise oufusocial movements. Counter-Movements seek to resist the
change advocated by a social movement like the Counter-Reformation in Europe. •Thus, Social
nijovements are those organized, collective and persistent efforts ofgroups to resist or oppose existing
structures. They could be engines for change. Authorities may consider some social movements as
threatening to the status quo. The government in some circumstances would limit their mobilization and
reduce their solidarity by restricting and giving some sanctions. At present in the Philippines, the militant
Left and the secessionist movements fall under this category.

TYPES OF SOCIAL MOVEMENTS

1. Redemptive or "Messianic" movements-these are usually religious in character and do not attempt to
change society, but are engaged primarily in attracting people to their religious causes and beliefs such
as God's deliverance and the salvation of their souls.

2. Revolutionary Movements- making their ideological beliefs as a guide and weapon, revolutionary
movements seek radical change; abolish the existing order. The Communist Party of the 'Philippines (C
PP), the National Democratic Front (NDF), the New People's Army (NPA), and the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front (MILF) are examples of these movements.

3. Reform Movements-these movements seek only to improve, reform or revise and existing order, but
do not attempt to abolish it. The Propaganda movement was a reform movement as manifested in one
of its objectives- the assimilation of the Philippines as a regular province of Spain. The Katipunan was a
revolutionary movement because it fought for the separation of the Philippines from Spain

4. Reactionary movements seek to restore the status quo after social changes. Their aim is to revert back
to the old practices in the system. Usually, the conservative elements of society are inclined to ioin
reactionary movements.

5. Utopian movements (Thomas MoT invented the term utopia) They are movements promising an ideal
if not perfect and harmonious existence in society for its members. Utopians convince their members
that they can live in justice, freedom, equality, wisdom beauty, and plenty.