Final answer:
Socialization is the process of learning to become functional in a culture, including adopting its values, norms, and behaviors. This process can be deliberate or unconscious, allowing individuals to assimilate into the dominant culture and understand societal expectations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which an individual learns about and becomes functional in a culture other than one's own is known as socialization. Socialization is the means through which people are taught to be proficient members of a society. It encompasses education that involves learning about cultural values, norms, and expected behaviors through participation in a society. This process includes understanding societal norms and expectations, accepting society's beliefs, and being aware of societal values. Through socialization, an individual can take on the characteristics of the dominant culture even if they are a minority within it; this aspect is often termed assimilation. Not only does socialization help one gain knowledge of the material culture, such as how to use objects used within that society, but it also includes the nonmaterial culture, like beliefs, values, and norms.
While much of cultural learning is systematic and deliberate, a significant portion is absorbed unconsciously through everyday experiences and interactions. The concept of cultural transmission reflects this process where individuals learn the values, beliefs, and social norms of their culture, often without explicit instructions. The result is a set of behaviors and an understanding that appear natural to individuals within the cultural context.