Socialization Processes

A Study of The Socialization Processes Within The United States Army.

Overview

• This presentation will outline the processes of socialization and exit.

• The three major phases of socialization will be identified and examined.

• The processes in which roles are developed and negotiated over periods of time will also be covered.

• Finally, the role of the socialization process in the United States Army will be analyzed and examined.

The Socialization Process

• What is the Socialization Process?

• Definition; The process in which individuals and organizations adapt to each other and how individuals learn about the requirements of the job.

• There are three phases to the Socialization Process

• Anticipatory Socialization, Encounter and Metamorphosis.

Phases of Socialization

Anticipatory Socialization

3 Phases of Socialization• Anticipatory Socialization

• Refers to the socialization process that occurs before an individual actually enters the organization.

• Several aspects include; learning about a particular occupation, learning about an organization ect.

• Involves ideas about the nature of specific careers and occupations or what is known as “vocational anticipatory socialization.” Can begin in very early life.

• Anticipatory Question; “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

Roles of Socialization Continued

• Anticipatory Socialization can transfer onwards from childhood to middle school to high school and beyond into college.

• Examples of Anticipatory Socialization regarding the military; Playing soldiers, watching war films, attending ROTC in high school, talking to a recruiter during college.

The Encounter

Roles of Socialization Continued

• The second stage of socialization is called the Encounter.

• This phase occurs when socialization occurs at the “point of entry” when an employee encounters life on the job.

• In order to interpret life experiences, the newcomer relies on past experiences, predispositions and the interpretations and the experiences of others.

Roles of Socialization Continued

• Example of an Encounter; A recent high school graduate meets with a recruiter and discusses possible options for enlistment into the military.

• The recruiter guides the graduate into making beneficial and productive options that will shape the graduate’s future based on the student’s circumstances and the recruiter’s own knowledge and involvement as well as handling other students.

Roles of Socialization Continued

• 2nd Example; A military recruit passes through Basic Training. Upon arrival in his/her unit the recruit asks questions of what is expected of them from the Chain of Command, and other recruits that have spent time and have had experience with that particular unit.

• Questions could address schedules, rank, physical expectations, unit information and responsibilities.

Metamorphosis

Roles of Socialization Continued

• The final stage is known as Metamorphosis.

• This is when the new employee has made the transition from outsider to insider.

• “During this stage the recruit begins to become an accepted, participating member of the organization by learning new behaviors and attitude and/or modifying new ones.” (Jablin and Krone, 1987 pg. 713)

• However, the relationship between the recruit and the organization is not always complete. There is always room for improvement, change and adaption.

Roles of Socialization Continued

• Example of the Metamorphosis; A new recruit in a military unit begins to make friends and relationships amongst his/her peers in addition to the working well with them.

• The recruit invited to participate in activities outside of work including movies, eating out and parties.

• The recruit regularly attends organizational activities including football games, platoon barbecues and the Unit’s formal ball.

The Role Development Phase

Role Development Phase

• The next step in social processes in the Role Development Phase.

• There are three steps to this phase which concerns how individuals interact and development their organizational roles.

• The phases are Role Taking, Role Making and finally Role Routinization.

Role Taking

Role Taking

• This phase involves a sampling process in which the supervisor assigns tasks to the subordinate in order to learn about the subordinate’s skills and motivation.

• Example; The recruit’s platoon leader assigns the recruit to the Heavy Weapons Squad to see if the recruit possesses the physical and mental ability that is required to be on the best squad in the platoon.

Role Making

• The 2nd phase involves a negotiation process in which the supervisor and subordinate exchange resources in the further development of role definitions.

• Example; The platoon’s head officer assigns the recruit special duties such as being his personal RTO, driver and secretary. The recruit agrees but on the condition that he is exempt from other platoon responsibilities.

Role Routinization

• The 3rd and final phase is Role Routinization. This is the phase where the role of the subordinate and the expected behavior and role of the supervisor is fully understood by both parties.

• Because of this the supervisor can development new types of relationships with the employee.

• Example; Because of the responsibilities that the recruit carries out for the head officer, the recruit is now able to make suggestions for scheduling and the assignment of new recruits to squads.

Entry and Exit

Entry and Exit

• Although entry plays a large role, exit is also a part of the socialization process, even to a minor degree.

• The organizational exit is a process not event.

• The organizational exit is a process that affects many people, not just the employee that leaves.

• The exit process can also have effects on the families of the employee as well.

Entry and Exit

• The final exit from the workplace is one that holds particular meaning for individuals throughout employee’s lives.

• Communication plays a large role in the exit process.

Entry and Exit

• Example; After four years of exemplary military service, a recruit has reached the end of his military career. During his service he has been promoted several times. He has been given numerous responsibilities and has completed all of them successfully.

• Due to the impact he has had on his company and platoon, many of his friends and fellow soldiers are emotionally impacted.

• Due to his retirement he is able to spend much more time with his family, building a stronger bond and having a better influence on his children.

Conclusion

• The Socialization Process is a concept that takes place in every organization including the military.

• The Socialization Process takes place in three phases and also has three role fulfilling phases which come into play during the worker’s history at the company.

• The Exit stage of the Socialization process while not as big of a role, is still part of the Socialization Process and effects both the employee, peers and family.

Questions For Consideration

• When in the phase Role Routinization, what sorts of actions can an employee take to finally complete and fulfill the role?

• What stage if any, is the most important when it comes to the conclusion of the Socialization Process? Which one is most impactful?

Sources Page

• “Effective Leadership; Military Socialization Effects and Effective Leadership Behavior”. Dalenberg, Sander. June 2014. https://www.researchgate.net/publication262735105_Military_Socialization_Effects_and_Effective_Leadership_Behaviour. Accessed 5 March 2017.

• “Organizational Communication; Approaches and Processes.” Miller, Katherine. 2012, Cengage Learning.