How does the socialization process create both the individual and the institution simultaneously? Children are born into this world without any form of sociological culture. They go through a process of sociological development in which parents, teachers and other influences transform them into socially competent individuals. What is socialization? Socialization is the way people teach others how to interact with their group. When an individual becomes socialized, he also creates a socialized institution. Socialization is a process that we learn and reflect on our behaviors, and it is the way of adapting to what is considered appropriate based on the society in which we live. In the same sense a child is nothing more than a puppet, who must be brought into society to learn what is acceptable or appropriate and what is not. In sociology we call this acceptance “norms”. How the individual reacts to those established norms helps them begin to reproduce their own set of norms. There are three types of rules; popular uses, customs and taboos. Folkways are customs and practices that promote smooth interaction between members of society. Folk customs are a set of freely applied behaviors. Customs are the basic norms for essential values. Costumes have serious and formal repercussions. The third type of norms are taboos. Taboos are deeply rooted customs and are enforced by force. The mere thought of violating a taboo evokes horror or revulsion. When someone socializes, they become a reflection of their environment, and their environment is a reflection on themselves. Furthermore, when someone socializes, they are taught the roles that everyone around them plays, they also become… a paper medium… a tension unit and an expert soldering iron. The Army's goal is to create a single unit; this is done by removing the identity the recruit previously had. Giving standardized haircuts, wearing the same uniform and humiliating them makes them a unified unit. The norms and expectations of the military are also very different from those of the typical society. To answer the question: “how does the socialization process create both the individual and the institution simultaneously?” Socialization is the way people teach others how to interact with their group. The two processes of socialization, the "mirror self" and the "generalized Other", are two theories of how someone becomes who they are and, in terms, creates an institution. Works Cited Ferris, Kerry, and Jill Stein. The real world: an introduction to sociology. New York: W. W. Norton, 2008. Print.