What do we call the lifelong process through which individuals learn and internalize society’s norms and values?

The lifelong process through which individuals learn and internalize society’s norms and values is referred to as socialization. This concept encompasses the various ways individuals acquire the culture of their society, including beliefs, behaviors, customs, and expectations. Socialization occurs through various agents such as family, schools, peers, and media, shaping individuals from infancy through adulthood.

Enculturation refers specifically to the process of learning and adopting the characteristics of one’s own culture, often used interchangeably with socialization but typically limited to the cultural aspects one is born into. Acculturation describes the process of adopting the cultural traits or social patterns of another group, often occurring during interactions between different cultures. Assimilation occurs when a person or group adopts the culture of another group, often leading to a loss of their original cultural identity, rather than simply learning the norms and values as in socialization. Therefore, socialization is the most comprehensive term that includes the lifelong and dynamic nature of this learning process.