Socialization as cultural communication: Development of a theme in the work of Margaret Mead

This book develops but one central theme from her work-the processes of cultural transmission. In keeping with the interdisciplinary focus of Ethos and with the interdisciplinary relevance of Margaret Mead's work, scholars of diverse fields-anthropology, sociology, psychology, psychiatry, and primatology-were invited to contribute articles on suggested topics related to the theme of socialization as cultural communication.

Socialization as used in this volume is to be conceived in its broadest sense as the way individuals become members of a society, embodying in their own experience, and acting out in their learned behavior, a part of the culture of that society. Although Margaret Mead prefers the term "enculturation" to characterize her own work, I chose the more widely used term. It is to be understood in a sense that encompasses both "socialization" and "enculturation," as they are sometimes usefully distinguished. It is characteristic of Margaret Mead that she sees socialization not as a set of discrete practices such as swaddling, early weaning, or training for independence but as context-sensitive interactions among parents and children, peers, youths, and adults.