ABSTRACT
Families have long been the focus of research on child socialization, and only recently have investigators begun to explore the potential joint and/or unique contributions of other socialization agents and settings. In an effort to expand our view of child socialization, several contemporary theorists (e.g., Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Cochran & Brassard, 1979; Hartup, 1979, 1983; Parke, 1979) have proposed that, in addition to the family, children participate in a variety of nonfamilial “cultures” (e.g., the parents’ personal-social network, the peer group, the school) that influence their development. Presumably, these agents and contexts may have direct or indirect effects on the child (i.e., their influence may be directed toward the child or mediated through others, such as parents or siblings), and may serve to complement or disrupt the socialization practices of the family.
