Promoting Light and Truth through Socialization

     Socialization in human beings begins in the early years of childhood according to their genetics and environment. According to Urie Bronfenbrenner, they are influenced by a number of contexts: the micro, meso, exo, and chronosystems. Interestingly enough, Robert Berns in Child, Family, School, and Community suggested that most socialization (the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, and character traits that enable participation in society) occurs in the microsystem. In other words, not only are children given certain genes and character traits, but interactions with their caregivers guides their way of internalizing certain behaviors. These behaviors then influence the mesosystem, or interactions with others outside of the home. For instance when a parent guides a child to act a specific way they expect that same behavior in others and in society. This is how social norms in a society are formed. As children are born with differentiating temperaments, caregivers must adapt their socialization techniques to fit accordingly and meet the needs of the child temporally and emotionally. Otherwise, antisocial behavior may occur. As society changes, it may present challenges for parents but they too can adapt accordingly if they learn along with their children to re-built communication bridges (ex. new technology and language).

     To chase light from darkness we as parents and caregivers need to grow in knowledge (or light) rather than fight it. Think of a dark room. When you turn on the light, it chases away the darkness and you can see things as they really are. Although people are living in ways that are hurtful for men, women, and children, we can understand and be compassionate because of the context which they grew up in. Some threats against the family include: abuse, abortion, cohabitation, divorce, fatherlessness, human trafficking, pornography, poverty, radical feminism, religious intolerance, consent-based marriage, and technology addiction. As we become more informed and teach others the truths of these issues we come to advocate for respect for children, life, marriage, commitment, fatherhood, human liberty love and intimacy, prosperity and independence, sexual complementarity, religious freedom, comprehensive marriage, and human connections.