सामाजिकीकरण र सामाजिक नियमन

Socialization continues from birth to death, as individuals learn new roles, norms and values at every stage of life.

Logic: A person is socialized first in the family as a child, then in school, peer groups, and workplace, and later learns new roles as spouse, parent, and grandparent. Since society and one's roles keep changing, learning of norms and values never stops — hence socialization is a lifelong process.

Social deviation refers to behaviour that violates the established social norms, values and expectations of a society — for example, theft, drug abuse, corruption, prostitution or violence. It is a universal phenomenon found in every society, though its form and degree vary.

Causes of social deviation

1. Weak or faulty socialisation — The family is the first agency of socialisation. Neglect, over-indulgence, broken families, or parents who themselves break rules fail to instil values, so children grow up without respect for norms.

2. Poverty and unemployment — When people cannot meet basic needs through lawful means, they are pushed towards theft, robbery, smuggling, gambling or prostitution to survive.

3. Bad company and peer influence — Adolescents and youths are easily influenced by friends who use drugs, drink or steal. Curiosity and the desire for recognition push them into deviation.

4. Ignorance and lack of education — Illiterate and unaware people may not know what the accepted norms are, or may hold superstitions and customs that society considers deviant.

5. Rapid social change and cultural conflict — When society changes fast, old norms lose value and new ones are not yet established (anomie). Conflict between traditional and modern values, or between the norms of different groups, creates confusion and deviation.

6. Ineffective legal system and weak social control — If laws are not enforced, punishment is delayed or the powerful escape punishment, people lose fear of the law and deviate.

7. Urbanisation and industrialisation — City life gives anonymity and weakens the informal control of family, caste and community, making deviant behaviour easier.

8. Psychological and biological factors — Mental illness, frustration, aggression, low intelligence or hereditary defects make some individuals unable to adjust to social norms.

9. Inequality and discrimination — Caste, class, gender and ethnic discrimination create a sense of injustice and revenge, leading the deprived to revolt against the system.

10. Influence of mass media — Films, internet and social media that glorify violence, crime and luxurious living mislead young people.

Suggestions to solve social deviation

1. Strengthen socialisation and social control — The family, school, religious institutions and community should jointly teach moral values, discipline and civic responsibility from childhood. Parents must give time and proper guidance to children, and schools should include moral education, life-skills and counselling services. Informal agencies such as the family, neighbourhood and religious bodies should be made active so that individuals are controlled by values rather than only by fear of punishment.

2. Remove the economic and social roots of deviation — The state should create employment opportunities, run poverty-alleviation and skill-development programmes, and ensure fair distribution of resources so that no one is forced to deviate for survival. Along with this, the legal system should be made prompt, impartial and strict, and reformative measures such as rehabilitation centres, de-addiction programmes, vocational training and counselling for offenders should be used so that deviants can be brought back into the mainstream.

In short, social deviation cannot be removed by punishment alone; it needs a combination of strong socialisation, economic justice, public awareness and effective law enforcement.