Final answer:
True, cultural values and attitudes are transmitted through parents, teachers, friends, government leaders, movies, television, and the Internet. This process, known as cultural transmission, includes both formal education and informal learning experiences, influencing beliefs and social norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cultural transmission is the process through which individuals come to learn the values, beliefs, and social norms of their culture. This learning occurs both formally, such as in an educational setting like a U.S. History classroom, and informally, such as by observing social interactions, like learning the cultural norm for asking a classmate out on a date. Not only does this process happen through interactions with family and peers, but also through various forms of media that include movies, television, and the Internet, which disseminate messages about social norms and expectations.
The environment a person grows up in, including direct interactions with social groups and the influence of formal and informal institutions, plays a significant role. The family serves as the first agent of socialization, teaching the child how to interact with various objects and people. Similarly, schools also participate by reinforcing social traditions and norms, including the unspoken ones learned through observation and peer interaction.
Mass media, by exposing individuals to a vast amount of information, contributes to socialization by promoting cultural norms. With considerable screen time, media outlets are powerful in influencing what is perceived as normal or expected behavior in a society. The interplay between these sources contributes to the preservation and evolution of culture. This transmission of culture shapes individual identities and societal structures.