Researchers Say Socialization No Longer an ''Issue''

It's always been obvious that the socialization question was bogus, now there's proof.

His studies found that homeschooled children are not disadvantaged when it comes to socialization. He said that those taught at home were more likely to invite others to play with them, they were not as competitive but more cooperative, and they kept their noise levels lower. Homeschooled children also played with peers of both genders rather than with those of the same gender, he added.

"Not disadvantaged" the results sound like there is a definite advantage to homeschool socialization compared to public school socialization.

My favorite definition comes from Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

Socialization, or the transformation of a human organism into a person who functions successfully within a particular social system, cannot be avoided. The essence of socialization is to make people dependent on social controls, to have them respond predictably to rewards and punishments. And the most effective form of socialization is achieved when people identify so thoroughly with the social order that they no longer can imagine themselves breaking any of its rules.

It is also rather scary.