Chapter 3: Socialization and Counter Socialization for a Democracy

This chapter emphasizes two concepts, socialization and counter-socialization as well as the relationship between them. These concepts and the processes associated with them guide the learning experiences that are used across this Issues-Centered Decision Making Curriculum. This chapter explains and exemplifies these concepts at K-12 grade levels.

* * *

The concepts of socialization and counter-socialization are central to this Issues-Centered Decision Making Curriculum. They deserve emphasis. The first concept is socialization which is the process of learning the existing customs, traditions, rules and practices of a society. The second is counter-socialization which involves expanding the individual’s ability to be a rational and reasoning decision maker—citizen attributes that contribute to strong selfconfidence, stronger citizens and to a strong democracy.