Primary socialization happens in childhood, in the family. Secondary socialization happens later, through institutions and peers. It is the process of learning the norms and behaviors appropriate to specific roles and contexts: how to act at work, in a classroom, in a religious community, or in a new country.

Secondary socialization is less intense than primary socialization. It does not shape basic personality as deeply. But it is essential for functioning in a complex society. A child learns language at home. A young adult learns professional jargon on the job.

Agents of secondary socialization

• Schools: academic norms and peer culture
• Workplaces: professional roles and hierarchies
• Peer groups: style, slang, and social skills
• Media: political views and consumer habits
• Religious institutions: moral codes and rituals

Secondary socialization can be resocialization when it involves a sharp break with the past. Entering the military, prison, or a convent requires unlearning old roles and learning new ones. Total institutions, as Goffman called them, control all aspects of life to remake the self.