These agents of socialization tend to reinforce one or both of the essential tendencies of all living systems: the self-assertive and the integrative.
Neither of these tendencies is intrinsically good or bad. What is healthy is a dynamic balance. What is unhealthy is imbalance – overemphasis of one tendency and neglect of the other (Source: Web of Life by Fritjof Capra).
As families continue to suffer from divorce and stress, and as religion, education and government continue to have less influence in the average person's life, the other agents that reinforce more of the self assertive side — economy, media and peers — will have a more dramatic impact on shaping societal values and behavior. The result is that
Western industrial culture has overemphasized the self-assertive and neglected the integrative tendencies. |
Economy: Produces, manages, & distributes human & material resources
Media: TV potent agent of socialization, avg. household watches 55 hours/week of TV
Religion: Guides behavior and gives meaning to our lives
Education: Teaches knowledge, skills and values most important to society
