Understanding the Different Types of Socialisation Throughout Life

From the moment we are born, we begin learning how to exist in the world around us – what to say, how to behave, what roles we are expected to fill. This process is called socialisation, and it never truly stops. According to sociologists, socialisation is the lifelong process through which individuals learn and internalise the norms, values, and social roles of their society. What makes it particularly fascinating is that it doesn’t happen in one go. Instead, it unfolds through distinct types, each shaping a different dimension of who we are. Understanding these types – primary, secondary, gender, anticipatory, re-socialisation, and adult socialisation – gives us a clearer picture of how human identity is built, layer by layer, across an entire lifetime.

Primary socialisation: the foundation of who we are
Secondary socialisation: learning beyond the family
Gender socialisation: learning what society expects based on gender
Anticipatory socialisation: rehearsing for roles we haven’t yet assumed
Re-socialisation: unlearning and relearning
Adult socialisation: adapting throughout life
How the types connect across the life course

Primary socialisation: the foundation of who we are

Primary socialisation is where it all begins. It occurs during early childhood and takes place almost entirely within the family unit. This is when children first absorb the basic norms, values, language, and behaviors that will underpin all future social interactions. Parents, siblings, and close relatives serve as the child’s first teachers – not always through formal instruction, but through observation, imitation, and emotional feedback.

For example, a child who grows up hearing “please” and “thank you” at the dinner table internalises politeness as a social expectation. A child who watches their parents resolve disagreements calmly learns conflict resolution by example. As LibreTexts explains, it is during primary socialisation that the individual develops their core identity – and this foundation shapes how they will respond to all subsequent social experiences.

Primary socialisation is considered the most critical stage because its lessons are absorbed at a time when children are most impressionable. It prepares the individual from birth, through adolescence, to meet social expectations at every stage of their lives. Without it, children would struggle to integrate into even the most basic social settings.

Secondary socialisation: learning beyond the family

As children grow older and begin interacting with the world outside their home, secondary socialisation takes over. This type occurs when individuals engage with institutions and groups beyond the family – most notably schools, peer groups, workplaces, and the media.

Secondary socialisation doesn’t replace primary socialisation; it builds on it. Schools require very different behaviour from the home, and children must act according to new rules. They learn how to work in groups, follow authority figures, manage competition, and navigate complex social hierarchies. What sociologists call the hidden curriculum – the unspoken lessons schools teach about punctuality, obedience, and effort – is a key product of this process.

Secondary socialisation is not limited to childhood. It continues well into adulthood whenever a person enters a new social environment. Starting a new job, joining a religious community, or relocating to a different country all trigger secondary socialisation. It can reinforce or challenge values learned in primary socialisation and is increasingly significant in modern, rapidly changing societies.

Gender socialisation: learning what society expects based on gender

Gender socialisation is the process through which individuals learn the roles, norms, and behaviors that society associates with their gender. It begins at birth – sometimes even before, as seen in the now-common practice of gender reveal parties – and continues throughout life.

Families are among the earliest agents of gender socialisation. Parents often, sometimes unconsciously, treat boys and girls differently – buying trucks and sporting equipment for sons, dolls and dress-up clothes for daughters. Research has shown that children tend to choose “gender appropriate” toys even when others are available, because parents give positive feedback for gender-normative behaviour.

Schools also play a significant role. Teachers at all levels tend to call on boys more often in class and give them more feedback on their school work – often without realising it. These subtle patterns reinforce the message that boys are expected to be more vocal and assertive.

The consequences of gender socialisation extend into adulthood. A longitudinal study published in PMC found that childhood family gender socialisation experiences – including parents’ work patterns and gender attitudes – influenced the career choices their children made as adults, contributing to the ongoing gender segregation of the labour market. Meanwhile, gender stereotyping tends to be less restrictive for females than for males, meaning boys face stricter social consequences for stepping outside gender norms than girls typically do.

It is important to note that gender socialisation is not a fixed or universal process. Different cultures apply different standards, and societies are increasingly recognising the harm that rigid gender norms can cause – particularly for those who do not conform to binary expectations.

Anticipatory socialisation: rehearsing for roles we haven’t yet assumed

Anticipatory socialisation refers to the process by which individuals prepare in advance for social roles they expect to take on in the future. Rather than learning on the job, so to speak, people begin absorbing the values, norms, and behaviors of a group or role before they formally enter it.

The concept was first defined by sociologist Robert K. Merton, and has its origins in a 1949 study of the United States military which found that soldiers who adopted the attitudes of officers were more likely to be promoted. The research revealed that adjusting behaviour to align with the group you want to join is a deeply rational and effective social strategy.

Everyday examples are everywhere. A university student studying law begins dressing more formally, adjusting their speech, and learning professional etiquette – all before they have been admitted to the bar. A couple who moves in together before marriage is, in effect, rehearsing the role of long-term domestic partners. Soon-to-be parents who read infant care books and prepare their home for a new arrival are also engaging in anticipatory socialisation.

This type of socialisation makes transitions smoother. When the moment comes to step into a new role, the individual is not starting from scratch – they have already been shaping themselves toward it.

Re-socialisation: unlearning and relearning

Unlike the types discussed so far, re-socialisation involves a more dramatic shift: the deliberate or forced unlearning of previously held norms and values, replaced by a new set. It is the process of discarding an old social identity and constructing a new one.

Re-socialisation can be voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary re-socialisation includes experiences like joining a religious order, converting to a new faith, or entering a profession with a very distinct culture – such as the military or medicine. Involuntary re-socialisation, on the other hand, typically occurs in what sociologist Erving Goffman called total institutions – settings like prisons, psychiatric hospitals, and military boot camps. In these environments, staff first attempt to erode the residents’ existing identities and independence, then systematically build a different personality or sense of self.

The process of re-socialisation is typically more stressful than normal socialisation, because people must unlearn behaviours that have become deeply customary to them. Someone leaving prison, for instance, must not only learn to navigate life outside but must also shed the survival-oriented norms that governed their time inside. Similarly, a person immigrating to a new country may need to adopt different communication styles, social customs, and daily routines that feel alien at first.

What makes re-socialisation particularly powerful is its totality. It does not simply add to existing knowledge – it replaces it.

Adult socialisation: adapting throughout life

Adult socialisation refers to the ongoing process of learning and adapting to new roles, responsibilities, and expectations throughout adulthood. While primary and secondary socialisation lay the groundwork, adult socialisation acknowledges that life keeps presenting new scenarios that require us to adjust.

Significant life events such as marriage, parenthood, or career changes often trigger periods of adult socialisation as individuals must adjust to entirely new roles and social expectations. Becoming a parent, for example, means learning how to balance personal needs with the demands of raising a child – a role for which no amount of prior study fully prepares you. Starting a new job requires picking up workplace culture, professional norms, and the unspoken rules of team dynamics.

Adulthood brings a new set of challenges and expectations, and as the ageing process moves forward, social roles continue to evolve. The expectations placed on a young adult entering the workforce differ substantially from those placed on a middle-aged parent, a newly retired senior, or someone navigating old age. Each transition demands new learning.

One distinctive feature of adult socialisation is that it tends to be more self-directed. Adults have greater agency in choosing which groups they join, which values they adopt, and how they respond to social pressure. However, external influences – family, colleagues, institutions, and broader cultural shifts – still play a significant role in shaping adult behaviour and identity.

How the types connect across the life course

These six types of socialisation are not isolated stages that switch on and off at fixed ages. They overlap, interact, and often occur simultaneously. A teenager experiencing secondary socialisation at school may also be engaging in anticipatory socialisation by watching how adults in their family navigate work and relationships. An adult undergoing re-socialisation after a major life change may draw on the values instilled during primary socialisation to maintain a sense of self.

Together, they map the full arc of human social development – from a newborn internalising the warmth and language of their family, to an elderly person adapting to the norms of a care facility. At every stage, socialisation remains the mechanism through which we are shaped by, and in turn shape, the societies we inhabit.

What do you think? Reflecting on your own life, which type of socialisation do you feel has had the most lasting impact on how you see yourself and your place in society? And in an era of rapid social change, how do you think digital environments are reshaping the traditional pathways of gender and adult socialisation?

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References

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Table of Contents

Primary socialisation: the foundation of who we are 🔗

Secondary socialisation: learning beyond the family 🔗

Gender socialisation: learning what society expects based on gender 🔗

Anticipatory socialisation: rehearsing for roles we haven’t yet assumed 🔗

Re-socialisation: unlearning and relearning 🔗

Adult socialisation: adapting throughout life 🔗

How the types connect across the life course 🔗