Family socialization is the most important agent of socialization; however, peer group is an important agent of socialization as well. Explain how family and peer-group socialization differ.

Socialization during childhood can be divided in four main blocks: family, school, peer group and the media. It is a process in which children learn how to deal with social interactions and how to build social expectations.

The family is the primary agent of socialization that children experience. At first, children are completely dependent on their family for survival. Parents teach children how to function and how to take care of themselves, and also how to manage their relationships with others. Moreover, the family provides to a child his/her first system of values.

The peer group is the first social group in which the child gathers with others with whom he/she shares interests, age, background and social status in most cases too. It is very likely that pertaining to a certain peer group influences the beliefs, interests and behaviours of a child. Specially during adolescence they play a crucial role, as it is a period when children are less bonded by adult supervision and spend more time with their groups of friends.

the answer is

Family socialization is important because children first interact with these family members before anyone else. Because of this, children learn the values, norms, and beliefs of society through their families. However, peer group socialization focuses on the subculture of the group. Young people shape themselves into the kind of person they think the group wants them to be by adopting the values and standards of the peer group.