The Function of Socialization in Social Evolution
Introduction
Ernest W. Burgess
Table of Contents | Next | Previous
There exists a more or less sharp division among sociologists with reference to the nature of socialization and its function in human progress. Small postulates purpose as the dynamic factor in society, and perceives in the evolution of human values the central process in human evolution. Ward, on the contrary, sees in man's progressive control over nature the dominant factor in spiritual as well as in material civilization. A statement of this latter position and its criticism by Professor Small will be sufficient to exhibit the antithesis between the two conceptions :
"To repeat again the definition that I formulated twenty years ago : material civilization consists in the utilization of the materials and forces of nature. It is, however, becoming more and more apparent that the spiritual part of civilization is at least conditioned upon material civilization. It does not derogate from its worth to admit that without a material basis -it cannot exist. But it is also true that the moment such a basis is supplied, it comes forth in all ages and races of men.. It may therefore be regarded as innate in man and potential everywhere, but a flower so delicate that it can only bloom in the rich soil of material prosperity. As such it does not need to be specially fostered. No amount of care devoted to it alone could make it flourish in the absence of suitable conditions, and with such conditions it requires no special attention. It may therefore be dismissed from our considerations, and our interest may be centered in the question of material civilization, and this will be understood without the use of the adjective."[1]
The criticism is brief, but to the point :
"This is partly optical illusion which overlooks the tremendous labors that men have always had to put forth to procure spiritual progress after the material means were supplied; and it is partly the same mistake in theory which marks the most vulnerable point in Dynamic Sociology. I have called it. the drop-a-nickel-in-the-slot conception of the social process—the idea that ‘information’ passes automatically through the steps of the psychological series and de-
( 2) posits ‘happiness’ in its owner's cup. The amount of technical effort that has been expended on the spiritual contents of civilization, which Ward refers to as a spontaneous growth, is curiously under-estimated in this passage." [2]
The primary object of this thesis is not to elaborate a critique of Ward's conception of the nature of socialization and its function in human progress, for it is only fair to state that he does not consistently hold to the view expressed here. Our purpose is rather to utilize these conflicting statements as the point of departure in an attempt to interpret the function of socialization in the social process. The following points, implicit or explicit, in the passage quoted from Ward, may serve as a foil to the succeeding discussion:
That material invention is independent of socialization.—We shall attempt to indicate to what extent scientific discovery and mechanical invention are conditioned by the process of socialization.
That spiritual civilization is conditioned by material civilization.—Our aim is to give a qualitative account of the factors, apart from the material influences, that determine social evolution.
That spiritual civilization needs no special attention.—We shall endeavor to point out that the ongoing of civilization, both spiritually and materially, is increasingly dependent upon the socializing of the individual. Moreover, we hope to make evident the inadequacy of a program which is limited to the diffusion of knowledge alone for the socialization of the individual and the promotion of progress.
Socialization[3] may be studied from two aspects. From the standpoint of the group, we may define it as the psychic articulation of the individual into the collective activities. From the stand-point of the person, socialization is the participation of the individual in the spirit and purpose, knowledge and methods, decision and ac-Lion of the group.
( 3)
With this tentative definition of socialization, we proceed to a statement of the propositions to be maintained in defense of the thesis :
1. Socialization is an indispensable condition to mechanical invention and scientific discovery upon which material civilization depends. In this way the evolution of human wants is as much a factor in social evolution as the evolution of the technique of the control of nature.
2. Socialization is not static, nor absolute, but dynamic and functional with reference to the promotion of the group activities. The psychic interactions of persons in the group give .rise to mental attitudes which determine the direction and rate of social progress.
3.
The socialization of the individual is not complete
with the education of the intellect, but involves the refinement of the feelings
and the discipline of the will in the achievement of self-control so that the
individual consciously modifies his behavior and shapes his purposes to promote
more efficient co-operative activity and to realize the higher welfare of the
group.
