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LOYOLA JESUIT COLLEGE, ABUJA

NVE SOCIAL STUDIES NOTES

FIRST TERM JS ONE

NAME ………………………………………………..

CLASS …………………………………..

DATE …………………………………

2023/2024 NOTES BY MRS. BABALOLA E.O.

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JS1 – Term 1
Week Topics
1 History of social studies
Types of social groups
Roles and responsibilities
of social groups
2 Meaning and
characteristics of culture.
Features of culture:
language, folktales, food
and dressings
3 Meaning and
characteristics of culture:
religion, technology and
craft
Objectives BECE/ERC questions
Students should be able 1. Social Studies as a
to: discipline originated from
 to discuss the meaning A. Federal Republic of
of social studies Nigeria
B. Great Britain
 list the types of social
C. People’s Republic of
groups China
 identify at least two D. South Korea
responsibilities of a E. United States of
social groups America
2.. The central objective
of social studies is ….
A. citizenship education.
B. political education.
C. social education.
D. university education.
2… refer to the group of
people who are closely
related by blood, marriage
or adoption.
A. Bond
B. Ethnicity
C. Family
D. Marriage
Students should be able 1. Which of the following
to: is a material aspect of
 To list at least five culture?
features of culture a. Belief
b. Craft
 To give at least five c. Language
examples each of the d. Religion
culture listed e. Value
2. Cultural diversity
illustrates the .... of
groups within our society
a. division
b. heterogeneity
c. homogeneity
d. spontaneity
e. uniformity
Students should be able 1. Culture is said to be
to: ...because it changes
 To give at least five a. dynamic
examples each of the b. homogenous
c. shared
culture listed
d. static
2

4 Meaning and Students should be able
characteristics of culture to:
Dynamism, regional  Explain dynamism in
boundaries promotes unity culture
and understanding  Explain how regional
encourages productivity boundaries promotes
and encourages
productivity unity in
culture
5 Cultural similarities and Students should be able
differences among to:
Nigerians, religious  Explain cultural
worship and animism similarities and
differences
 Identify at least five
differences among
Nigerians
6 Farming festival, music, Students should be able
art and craft, weaving, to:
lethal and metal works  Identify and explain at
least five examples of
leather work.
7 Cultural differences Students should be able
among Nigerians , shared to
norms and values  Identify five cultural
differences among
Nigerians
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e. universal
1. Cultural diversity is the
...in our ways of life
a. adaptation
b. changes
c. concept
d. differences
e. practices
2. Cultural dynamism
implies that culture is
a. borrowed
b. changing
c. different
d. normal
e. static
1. The process of copying
other people’s culture can
be referred to as...
a. acceptance
b. acculturation
c. assimilation
d. mono-culturalism
e. transmission
2. Explain three aspects
of culture that is common
among the three major
ethnic groups in Nigeria
1. The ability of an
individual to embrace
elements of his/her
culture is known as
a. abrasion
b. acculturation
c. cultural alternatives
d. cultural consciousness
d. cultural influence
2. Identify three examples
of material and non
material aspects of culture
1. Which of the following
traditional practices is
common to the South-
East of Nigeria?
a. Child labour
b. Exchange of wives
c. New yam festival
d. Sharo festival
e. Tribal marks
 2. Identify three cultural
norms in Nigeria
8 Meaning of socialization: Students should be able to: 1. Socialization of a child
Kinds, agents and  Define socialization begins from the
Importance  List five kinds of a. church
b. home
socialization
c. mosque
 List the agents of d. peer group
socialization e. school
 List five importance 2. Show three ways in
which socialization can
help to ensure peace and
development in a
community

History of Social Studies

Social Studies first began in the United States of America after the experiences of the 2nd World
War, which lasted from 1939 to 1945. The 2nd World War led to the loss of many lives both of
soldiers who fought the war and innocent civilians who were victims of bombs and stray bullets.
Whole cities, towns and villages were destroyed and many were people were rendered homeless,
jobless and hopeless.

Effect of World War II David Emile Durkheim Father of Social Studies in France

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Effects of the war on society World Leaders can cooperate to prevent wars
The survivals of the war saw the need to ensure that another war never breaks out again and
therefore began to promote democratic institutions that promoted the use of dialogue as a means
to solving the problems of society, rather than war. It was against this background that Social
Studies was introduced as a subject in the USA to solve the problems of man in his physical and
social environments in order to avoid another World War. Social Studies was expected to bring
all the experiences of society together in a way they will be related to one another. That is why
Social Studies has a bit of every subject inculcated in its curriculum. There is Agriculture,
Business Studies, Economics, Geography, History, Political Science, Science and Technology,
Home Economics, Geography and many others integrated together to form the subject matter of
Social Studies.
The Spread of Social Studies; Other continents and nations of the world began to see the
importance of this unique subject. For example a conference on the importance of including
Social Studies in the school curriculum was held at Queens College, Oxford England in 1967 and
many countries such as Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra
Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia were in attendance. In 1968, The Mombasa Conference on
Social Studies was held in Kenya
In Nigeria, The Federal Ministry of Education and the former Nigerian Educational Research
Council (NERC) now renamed Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council
(NERDC) developed a National Primary Social Studies Curriculum. The Ford Foundation
sponsored the cost of developing this primary curriculum. In 1981, NERDC developed another
syllabus to take in social problems such as drug conflicts, abuse, HIV/AIDS, into the Social
Studies curriculum. The prevalence of examination malpractice made it necessary to review the

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curriculum again in 2006 and once again in 2014 where it was re-titled Religion and National
Values Education.
The first textbook on Social Studies was written in 1965 by the staff of Comprehensive High
School, Aiyetoro in Ogun State, Nigeria. The subject was taught only in Western Nigeria and
limited to only form 1&2 students.

Comprehensive High School Aiyetoro Ogun State. School gate. Ford Foundation Logo
The Ford Foundation once again stepped in and financed the cost of expanding the teaching of
the subject throughout Nigeria. The Comparative Education Study and Adaptation Centre
(CESAC) an institution in the University of Lagos joined efforts with the Ford Foundation and
rewrote the Social Studies textbook and submitted in 1977. It gained approved as Social Studies
for Nigerian Schools in 1979. The National Council on Education later approved a national
syllabus in 1982.
The Types and Meaning of Social Groups
A social group usually consists of two or more people who interact with one another, have a
sense of unity, and may share many similar characteristics among themselves.
There are two types of social groups in Social Studies, and they are the primary and secondary
social groups.
Primary Social Group; the primary social group is a group whose members share close,
personal and long lasting relationships. They are usually related by blood, marriage or adoption
and may stay together for life. Examples of the primary social group include
1. Family
2. Peer group
3. Age grade members in the villages
4. Kinsmen/women and members of a very small village

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The family as the main example of a primary social group is the main unit and agent of
socialization.

Members of a family in the village and an age grade from Eastern Nigeria celebrating in the
city (Googlesearch.com) Examples of the primary social group
Characteristics of the Primary Social Group
1. They are usually closely and intimately related. They share their joys and sorrows together
2. They may remain together for a lifetime
3. Membership is small
4. They are usually related together by blood, marriage or adoption
5. They have rules and regulations and sanctions for breaking rules and regulations is usually
mild. For example, your parents can have you grounded for not doing your homework.
The Secondary Social group
The secondary social group is one which consists of a large people who are not related by blood
but come together and interact to achieve a common purpose. Examples of a secondary group
include trade or labour unions such as Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Union of
Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Labour Congress NLC, Red Cross, Girl’s Guide, pressure groups,
members of a political party like the All Progressive Congress APC, PDP, LP etc.

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Characteristics of the Secondary Social Group
1. Membership is usually very large, unlike the primary secondary group
2. Members are not related by blood but are united together to achieve a common purpose such
as where pressure groups make sure that they prevent government from making bad decisions.
3. They have laws and punishments for breaking such laws are usually very stringent.
4. Members may not be closely or intimately related, by blood or marriage. In fact they may not
know each other at all
Members of secondary social group (Image from Googlesearch.com)
Roles and Responsibilities of Social Groups
All social groups have roles that they perform which helps the community they live in to
continue to survive.
The Roles of the Primary Social Group
1. The family is responsible for ensuring that the population of a community does not die out.
For example, families produce babies, which help to make up the number of those who die in the
community.
2. Families care for the needs of their old and very young members through providing love and
care.
3. Young members of the family run errands for the older members of the family and help to
keep the home clean.
4. Family members get themselves gainfully employed, earn income and pay taxes which helps
to improve government revenue.
5. Age grade members can engage in community service such as road repairs, forming vigilante
groups, which secure the community from robbers or constructing drains to ease the damage
done by flooding.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Secondary Groups
1. Members of a secondary group can influence government decisions in favour of their
members and their community. For example the Nigerian Labour Congress prevented the
government from increasing fuel prices by going on strike in 2003.
2. A political party can contest and win elections and form the government of the day e.g. APC
won elections in 2015 and have been ruling Nigeria ever since.
3. Members of a secondary group can offer free medical services like the Nigerian Medical
Association, Red Cross etc

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Types of Family Sizes in Nigeria
There are basically two types of family sizes in Nigeria
1. The small family size
2. The large family size
Characteristics of the Small Family Size
1. It is usually formed through a monogamous marriage, where a man has only one wife
2. The number of children born here are not usually many. They may be like 1-4 children. If they
number of offspring is up to 8 – 10 children from one mother, it is a large family.
3. The man and his wife before they have children are known as a conjugal unit. After they have
children, they form a nuclear family.
4. It is usually easier to control and discipline children in small families
5. It is less stressful to provide for the needs of small family members
***NOTE; A nuclear family is one that is made up of a husband, his wife or wives and their
children. It excludes members of the extended family such as cousins, uncles, aunties, nieces,
grandma and Grandpa etc.

Members of a small family (image from Googlesearch.com)

Characteristics of Large Families
1. This type of family is raised mainly thorough polygamous marriages, where a man has more
than one wife.
2. The offspring in a large family is usually many
3. Taking care and providing for the needs of members of a large family is usually more difficult
4. The only advantage here is that there are more hands to do house chores

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Members of a polygamous large family (image from Google search.com)
Consequences of Family Individual Lives Size on Individual’s lives
1. Children get more attention from their parents in small families. They will attend better
schools, get more care and love from their parents and will generally be happier
2. Members of large families tend to have to compete very fiercely for any available resources.
This kind of competition can become very unhealthy sometimes.
3. Parents in Large families have to work harder to provide for the needs of family members so
that they could develop high blood pressure from stress
4. There could be plenty of disagreements and quarrels in large families as they hustle for
attention from the man of the house. This could affect the children negatively.
5. The only advantage is that there is usually less workload for members of a large family,
because there are many hands to do the house chores.
Consequences of Family Size on the Nation’s Economy
1. Small families help to maintain optimum population, which is the best form of population.
Optimum population is not too high or too low. It is balanced, whereas large families lead to
population explosion.
2. Large families put pressure put pressure on social amenities such as accommodation, electric
power supply, spaces in schools etc
3. Small families make it easier for government to provide social amenities for the people who
will not be too many to provide for.

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Meaning and Characteristics of Culture
What is Culture?
Culture can be defined as the total way of life and living of a group of people in a particular area.
Culture is the sum total of how people live their everyday lives…how they marry and raise their
children. How and what they farm, their songs and dances, what and how they worship, their
language, beliefs and values, the festivals they celebrate, their occupations and hobbies, the tools
they make and how they make them etc For example Igbos worship Amadioha the god of
thunder and Yorubas worship Sango the god of thunder.

Gbagi women carry loads on their shoulders Bini woman with load on her head
(Googlesearch.com)
Components of Culture
Culture can be divided into two major components…
1. The material/tangible aspect of culture
2. The non-material/intangible aspect of culture

The Material/Tangible Aspect of Culture

The material/tangible aspect of culture refers to those features of cultures that people produce
with their hands in their localities. They can be handled and experienced. Examples of material
cultures refer to our artworks, our traditional/cultural dresses, the style of houses we build, tools
we make to do our work, as well as our foods that we eat. All of these are produced by us to
show our culture and how we are different from other ethnic groups in the things we make or
produce.

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Olu of Warri in full traditional regalia A Yoruba Girl with traditional hair
(Google.search.com) Ogiame Atuwatse
The Non Material/Intangible Aspect of Culture
This aspect of culture refers to those things in our culture that we cannot see or touch. Examples
include language, religion, values, norms, beliefs, the stories we tell, our legends and fables etc
Features of culture or the items that make up culture
1. Language; every ethnic group interact and communicate using language. Language is the
most important aspect of culture
2. Religion; every ethnic group in Nigeria expresses their belief in a supernatural being through
their worship. Many religions in Nigeria worship God through idols, totems or ancestors.
Yorubas worship Sango the god of thunder, Olokun or Yemoja the goddess of the sea, orisa who
is the manifestation of the creator god eledumare. Igbos worship Amadioha the god of thunder,
Ala the goddess of the earth, Long Juju or Ibini Ukpabi of Arochukwu, Alusi etc
3. Foods; every ethnic group eats what their local environment can produce. People in areas
where there are many rivers, streams or oceans eat a lot of fish, crabs, snails, crayfish etc while
those in rain forests like Igbo and Edo people eat a lot of tubers. Hausa people in the savanna
areas eat a lot of grains.
4. Dressing; many ethnic groups in Nigeria dress to express their various cultures. Igbos wear a
cloth called isiagu, Yorubas wear agbada, Hausas wear babanriga etc The pictures below show
Igbo men wearing Isiagu and Fulani people in their traditional attire

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Igbo men wearing Isiagu Fulani folks (Googlesearch.com)
5. Artworks; every ethnic group in Nigeria is engaged in one form of artwork for decorative
purpose or the other. For example, Yorubas and Bini people are into bronze casting, Bida people
in Niger State are into bead making, Fulanis decorate calabashes, Awka people are into iron
smelting, Abeokuta and Kano people are into tie and dye, while Ikot Ekpene people are into
raffia works.
6. Traditional technology; every ethnic group in Nigeria has their own local technology with
which they produce the implements and appliances to farm, cook, eat and make life easier for
themselves. For example, Yorubas have developed local looms with which they weave beautiful
clothes to make their dresses. All ethnic groups make hoes, cutlasses and other farming
implements from iron smelting.

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Local technology in Nigeria –making hoes
7. Folktales/beliefs/values/norms; every culture in Nigeria tries to pass on their beliefs, norms
and values through the folktales they tell their children. Every folktale has a message which
usually bothers on honesty, integrity, hard work, diligence and etc. Folktales are usually told
during moonlit nights after work in the farm. Folktales are told as both a form of entertainment
and also as a way of passing on values onto growing children.
Characteristics of culture or the way culture behaves
1. Culture is dynamic; this means that many of the cultural practices of many ethnic groups in
Nigeria has changed over time. For example, many people used to bear tribal marks on their
faces as a way of identifying the ethnic groups to which they belong, but today people no longer
bear tribal marks. Another cultural practice that has changed over time is the killing of twins
among Calabar people who saw them as a taboo. Today twin babies are seen as a big blessing in
all parts of Nigeria. That culture is dynamic means it is not static. Static means never changing,
always maintaining sameness from generation to generation.
Note; some tribal marks are called ichi in Igboland
Exercises
1. Identify any five cultural practices that are still practiced in Nigeria till date
2. Identify any 5 cultural practices that have changed over time in Nigeria

Yoruba tribal marks Igbo tribal marks from awgbu Anambra state 1910
2. Culture has Historical Basis; many cultural practices in Nigeria began from somewhere. For
example the culture of breaking of kolanut began from Igboland, where great reverence is placed
on the kolanut. The culture of reverence for twins originated from Yoruba people. The culture of
fattening brides began with the Efik/Ibibio people who put brides in fattening rooms and feed
them with foods rich in fat and carbohydrates in order to fatten their bodies for marriage. They
believed that a fat bride is a healthy bride. The Fulani flog prospective grooms to prepare them
for marriage.

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An Efik/Ibibio bride after Nkuho Sharo Flogging festival among the fulani
3. Culture has regional boundaries; a cultural practice which is highly regarded in one region,
may not be regarded in the same way in another region. For example twins were worshipped
among the Yorubas but dreaded and killed by the Calabar people. Same way bride price is very
high among the Igbos but affordable among the Yorubas. Kolanuts is regarded as life among the
Igbos but is eaten as a snack among the Hausas. Igbos have a saying that ‘he who brings kolanut
brings life’…
4. Culture promotes unity and understanding; the celebration of festivals in different parts of
the Nigerian federation brings people together. Many cultural practices in Nigeria are similar and
the practice of culture brings different people together. Ethnic groups in Nigeria trade together
and inter marry while practicing their various cultures. This brings unity. Many people who are
not Igbo attend the New Yam festivals in Igboland, same way even foreigners attend the Igue
festival in Benin city.

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Igue festival Benin City New Yam festival Anambra (Google search.com)
5. Culture is creative; every ethnic group tries to reflect their cultural differences through their
style of building, artwork and cultural dresses. The Hausa man builds his mud huts in a round
shape and roofs it with thatch. Thatched huts in the North are round in shape, while they are
square in shape in the south and roofed with thatch or palm fronds.

A hut in Northern Nigeria A hut in Eastern Nigeria (Google search.com)

Cultural Similarities and Differences among Nigerians
Many cultural groups in Nigeria have practices that are similar in one way or the other. Bel ow
are examples of cultural practices that are the same everywhere in any ethnic group in Nigeria.

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1. All cultures have religious worship; religious worship in ethnic groups in Nigeria involve
ancestor worship. Ancestors who appear as spirits are worshipped through dancing, singing,
prayers and feasting. Ancestors may be represented as masquerades during festivals.
2. Animism; all cultural practices practice animism. Animism is the belief that certain objects
such as rocks, huge trees, rivers, iron, thunder and lightning represent gods/goddesses. Sacrifices
are laid out before these objects in specially constructed shrines and people visit the shrines to
pray and make sacrifices for help from the gods/goddesses.
S/NOS Ethnic Group gods/goddesses Areas of power
worshipped

1. Yoruba Olokun goddess of the sea

“ Ogun god of iron
“ Sango god of thunder and lightening
2. Igbo Ala goddess of the earth
“ Amadioha god of thunder and lightening
“ Ibini Ukpabi oracle of the gods used to settle cases
“ Mmuo Mmiri Water spirits that control the water
3. Okrika people of Odum The river god
Rivers State
3. Farming and farming festivals; all ethnic groups in Nigeria practice the farming of one crop
or the other. For example Hausa people mainly farm cereals, grains, and vegetables and fruits
like onions and carrots. They also farm sugar cane, watermelon, tomatoes, peppers and lentils.
People in southern Nigeria farm root crops like Yams, cassava, cocoyams, plantain, bananas,
palm produce etc
All ethnic groups have farming festivals to celebrate their harvests from farming e,g
 Igbos have their new yam festival
 Kebbi people celebrate argungun fishing festival where they celebrate the largest catch
4. Music; all ethnic groups have songs with which they worship, celebrate festivals, celebrate
marriages, name their babies or even go to war. Each group have their unique musical
instruments which accompany their songs.
* Igbos have ‘udu’ ‘ekere’ ‘osha’
* Yorubas have ‘bata’ drums, ‘sekere’
* Hausas have ‘goge’
5. Arts and Crafts; Every ethnic group in Nigeria engage in one unique art and craft or the
other. Many of the arts and crafts are used either for decorations, adornment or worship. See the
table below
S/Nos Art and Craft Ethnic group State(s) in
Nigeria

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1. Wood carving Ikot Ekpene Akwa Ibom
2. Brass casting Bini and Yoruba Edo, all western
people Nigerian States
3. Iron smelters Awka Anambra
4. Leather works Hausa people in Northern States
Northern Nigeria
5. Tie and dye Abeokuta, Kano Ogun and Kano
6. Basket and mat Ekiti, Badagry Ekiti, Lagos,
weaving and Hausa Northern
people in Nigeria Nigerian states
7. Pottery Gbagi, Ilorin, Abuja, Kwara,
Benue, Benin, Benue, Edo and
Enugu people etc Enugu
8. Calabash Fulani and Northern and
Decoration Yoruba people Western
Nigerian States
9. Cane furniture Badagry people Lagos
10. Cloth weaving Abeokuta people Ogun
(Aso Oke)
6. Local technology; every ethnic group has one form of local technology or the other with
which they make the tools, appliances and utensils with which they farm, cook and eat their
meals. All ethnic groups are into blacksmithing from where they make hoes, cutlasses, sickles,
spoons, etc. They also have traditional looms from which fabrics are made for wearing.
7. Respect for elders is a shared value and norm among all ethnic groups in Nigeria. Elders are
to be respected by the youths in all ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Children showing respect in Yoruba culture

Cultural Differences among Nigerians

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1. Ethnic groups live in different geographical locations and therefore have different vegetation.
This means that they cultivate and eat different foods. Ethnic groups in riverine areas like
Okrika, Calabar, Badagry etc eat sea foods like crabs, fish, crayfish, and root crops which they
can cultivate in abundance in their rich rain forest environment while ethnic groups like the
Hausa/Fulani live in Sahel savanna and so eat grains and cereals which they can cultivate better
in their Sahel vegetation.
2. Ethnic groups have different religions, traditional dresses, and ways in which their societies
are organized.

Meaning of Socialization
Socialization is a process by which a person learns the proper and acceptable way to behave in a
new environment. For example the process a new JS One students learns to behave properly in a
new school and not get into trouble for breaking the law is known as socialization. Older
students or members of a society usually help new comers learn the proper and acceptable way to
behave.

Kinds of Socialization Process

There are two kinds of socialization processes
1. Status/childhood/primary socialization
2. Role/adulthood/secondary socialization
3. Re socialization stage
Status/Childhood/Primary Socialization; this type of socialization involves learning how to do
the right things and shun the wrong things. It involves the parents and family members of a child,
teaching the child to not lie, cheat or steal, but to be honest, fair and disciplined. It also
involves learning the language(s) spoken where the child is growing up, as well as the religion,
norms and values of his environment.
Role/Adulthood/Secondary Socialization; this type of socialization involves getting trained to
fit into a vocation or occupation. For example, formal school may prepare us for a future
occupation/vocation in Engineering, Medical Sciences, teaching or priesthood, while
apprenticeship prepares people for an occupation in fashion designing, hair styling etc
Resocialization stage; This is where a person who is already educated as a graduate is recruited
in the army and then taught special values, skills and behavioural patterns unique to the armed
forces or para military forces that he is engaged in.
Agents of Socialization
Agents of socialization refers to those people or institutions that guide us into acquiring good and
proper behaviours. Examples include family, school, religious organisations, peer group/play
mates, community and mass media.

The Family as an Agent of Socialization

The family serves as the first agent of socialization, this is because, the child is born into the
family and is the first set of people a child relates with intimately from the moment of bith. The
family will teach the child to speak, to eat, to have a religious belief, to have good values and

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make proper choices. It is the first socialization experience every child will have, that will guide
him/her in making good choices in life. The family mainly provide status/childhood/primary
socialization, but they can also strongly influence the vocation/occupation of a person

The School as an Agent of Socialization

The school not only provides academic and technical education to children, they also share the
responsibility of developing the character of the child. Some subjects like CRK/CRS, Social
Studies and Civic Education help to develop positive national values while others Technical
Drawing impart technical knowledge to students. Physical and Health Education (PHE) helps to
train the child’s body and mind to be healthy and functioning well. In school, students learn
cooperation, as well as other behavioural skills necessary for surviving in the wider world. This
is why school is an important agent of socialization.

Religious Organizations as Agents of Socialization

Children will often go to church, the mosque or other places of worship in the company of their
parents. In church, children will learn to worship and pray to God. They will also learn to acquire
positive values of truth, self-control, love for others, honesty, diligence and etc. This makes
religious organizations, important agents of socialization.

Peer group/Play Mates as Agents of Socialization

Children learn from each other a great deal. For example, children influence each other in their
choice of music, fashion, choice of subjects and use of slangs. Children do not only acquire
useful behaviors from their playmates, they could also acquire bad behavior from them. For
example, a child who shows disrespect to his/her parents, teachers, brothers and sisters would be
a bad influence on his/her playmates. This is why parents do not like their children relating with
lawless and ill-mannered playmates.

The Community as an Agent of Socialization

When a child is born into a community he/she is made to learn the way of life of the community,
and it is usually the adult community members who guide the child into acquiring the proper way
of behavior. If the community is one where swimming is a favourite hobby, the young child will
quickly learn to swim from a young age, similarly children born in a farming community will
grow up to be good farmers.

Mass Media
The mass media is the most modern and one of the greatest socialization agent today. The mass
media is made up of the radio, television, newspapers, books, magazines and currently the
internet and social media. The internet has opened up the world and turned it into a global
village. Subscribers are not only exposed to the cultures of the wider world, they are also able to
communicate at the press of a button with anyone in any part of the world. People can access
information on any chosen topic of study so that knowledge has increased for everyone. Videos
and pictures can be sent and received very easily so that people are quickly informed of any
global matter/issue. As useful as the mass and social media have become, it is important to note
that the mass media can promote negative cultures such as gambling, smoking, internet fraud,
violence and immoral acts. It can also be used to spread false and malicious information about

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people and institutions. It is therefore very important that people be selective of the way they use
the mass and social media.

Clubs and Associations

Various clubs and associations help students acquire moral education, spiritual development,
mental and social wellbeing to become better members of society. Examples of such clubs
include Red Cross Society, Boys Guide, Road Safety Clubs, Boys Brigade etc

Levels of Human Socialization

Humans experience socialization at different levels from the stage of being toddlers to the
adolescent stage. The four levels of socialization are as follows
 Oral stage
 Anal stage
 Oedipal stage
 Adolescent stage
Oral stage; this stage describes the main skills that a 0 – 11 month old human baby can
demonstrate at this level. The human baby at the oral stage cannot speak but uses its mouth and
sense of taste to interact with the world instead. It cries when it is hungry, wet or uncomfortable,
latches on to its mother breast or a feeding bottle for milk and generally puts everything in its
mouth, including harmful things. The baby tries to find out things for itself by tasting with its
mouth and biting with its teeth. The main socialization skill the baby will need at this stage is the
ability to desist from putting harmful things into its mouth.

Anal Stage; this is the stage when the baby is socialized to use the toilet or potty properly. At
this stage parents try to introduce the child to toilet activities. Learning to retain and eliminate
waste properly becomes the child’s focus. At the age of two male children identify with their dad
and female children identify with their mothers.

A child learning to use the toilet properly

Oedipal Stage; describes the stage where at age 4-5 years of age female children begin to bond
more with their fathers and males bond more with their mothers. They may engage in sibling
rivalry when they see the parents show affection to their siblings.

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Adolescent stage; this is the most difficult stage of socialization for many young people. The
growing child as a young teenager is neither an adult nor a child. He is hung up between two
worlds and may want to rebel against authority if close care and attention is not paid to him.
Attentive, caring but firm parenting will help an adolescent cross this stage successfully.

Rebellious teenagers asserting themselves before exasperated parents! (www.google search.com)

Processes of Socialization
There are four main processes of socialization and they are as follows
1. Direct learning
2. Incidental/Casual learning
3. Learning from models
4. Learning social roles

Direct Learning
This type of learning usually involves a teacher- student situation where language is the medium
of instruction and the teacher exposes the student to knowledge. The direct learning situation
could be formal or informal but it will usually involve students learning from a teacher. In the
formal setting, students are taught in a classroom, using a curriculum, but in an informal
situation, learning may be done in a workshop, shop or shed, and the students learn mainly by
imitating the teacher.

Incidental/Casual Learning
This type of learning occurs without the child knowing that he/she is learning. In this type of
learning there is no planned teaching or learning, there is no teacher instructing the students or
guiding them to learn, rather they learn without conscious effort and on their own. For example,
many students learnt to operate their phones and find out many functions on their phones without
teacher instructions.

Learning from Models

People can learn from notable people they hold in high esteem in the society. For example, many
students learnt oratory and public speaking by reading or listening to the speeches of Martin
Luther King Jnr. Some people can be influenced in their choice of career by notable public
figures whom they look up to and even imitate. Many children imitate the dance steps of music
stars today.

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Learning Social Roles
Social roles are established positions which people occupy and the people who occupy these
positions exhibit certain behavioural patterns which upcoming people can imitate as they grow
up to fill those roles. Examples of those roles include…
 Father
 Mother
 Priest
 Political leader
We watch these people act out their roles and when we grow up to fill their positions, we imitate
them.
Importance of Socialization
1. Socialization brings family members together and helps them to know how to work together.
Children who are properly socialized will know to share in the doing of house chores, which
gives everyone a sense of responsibility in the home.

2. Secondary socialization can help us acquire certain basic skills and behavioural patterns to
survive in life as adults. For example, we can learn to read and write which will help us in life.

3. We learn to obey rules and regulations through socialization. Many people who are not
properly socialized will fail to obey rules and regulations and they may end up as deviants,
criminals and social misfits that will lead to social unrest.

4. Socialization can help to produce well balanced and useful members of society. For example,
children from loving but firm parents tend to grow produced responsible and productive adults,
whereas children who did not get enough love, affection and discipline from their parents tend to
grow up into dysfunctional adults later in life.

5. Socialization helps to make society a peaceful place for all. When everyone in society is
properly socialized to obey rules and regulations, then law and order will prevail and there will
be peace of mind for all

6. Socialization leads to development of the society. When everyone is properly socialized to

have a vocation or occupation, then people will work to develop the society and the economy
will improve. The absence of secondary socialization can cause mass unemployment in society.

7. Socialization helps us to learn our culture and tradition so that we can properly fit into society.

References
1. Religion and National Values Theme Four Social Studies for Junior Secondary Schools
BK.1 for JSS by Dayo Ogunniyi et al BEC Edition
2. Pictures from Google search.com
3.Notes on Social Studies for Junior Secondary School Bk 1 by Mrs. E. O. Babalola

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