The effect of cultural socialization on the development of prosocial behavior and academic performance in young adults

Abstract

Socialization is a lifelong process of learning that influences an individual’s attitude, behavior, and values. The term “cultural socialization" specifically refers to the learning mechanism by which young adults attain cultural maturity by acquiring awareness of their cultural group values, resulting in the development of a sense of belonging toward that particular cultural group. Family as an agent of socialization plays a crucial role in imparting cultural traits and values to its members, which varies from one family to another due to cultural diversity and social change. The significant influence of peer groups, in addition to family, as a socializing entity adds complexity to this learning system and makes it a potential source for creating distinctions and fostering the development of superiority and inferiority complexes among the members. Young adults who experience socialization from both entities encounter a chaotic state of mind that impacts their behavior and academic performance. Hence, this study seeks to comprehend the significance of cultural socialization in the development of prosocial behavior and academic achievement within diverse cultural contexts, such as educational institutions. The study adopted a quantitative methodology with simple random sampling administered through a questionnaire. The findings show that cultural socialization has a potential influence on academic performance and prosocial behavior. Thus, cultural socialization serves as a catalyst for enhancing prosocial behavior, subsequently leading to better academic performance.