Are we “prisoners” of socialization – yes or no? If you answer “yes,” how do you

Question

Are we “prisoners” of socialization – yes or no? If you answer “yes,” how do you explain the fact that we think of ourselves as having choices and free will? If you say “no,” how do you explain the fact that in almost every way, we conform to what society expects of us? (We wear clothes, we drive on the right-hand side of the road, we go to college, and we don’t usually go around stealing things, killing people, or breaking most of the laws of society.) “Discuss this question with a friend, then post your response as well as how your friend’s opinion was similar or different than your own.”

Explanation / Answer

Yes, we are largely prisoners to socialization. We are constantly bombarded by advertisements on billboards, newspapers, TV and media that if not define at the least greatly influence our choices and concepts about life and how it ought to be lived. Thus, consciously we believe we make choices on our own and are free of the effects of socialization the truth remains that the unconscious motives and impulses that we have no control over nor any awareness actually run the show.

The counterpart argument is that we aren't prisoners of socialization. This is because no matter how much we are influenced by media and society at large, major decisions that actually affect our life are influenced by our own free will. These decisions are taken as objectively as possible so the influence of the unconscious motives is nil to negligible.

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