oversocialization

A few months ago, I wrote about Ted Kaszynski’s manifesto on my 2020 wrap-up post. However, he wrote a section titled, “Oversocialization,” and I did not cover it then. Let’s talk about it now.

what is it?

“Socialization” is defined as the process by which someone internalizes social norms and ideologies. Socialization is a necessary part of development, and is more effective in children than in adults; not only because children’s minds are more plastic than adults’, but because adults are more likely to choose the sources of their information based on the opinions they already have. We’ll get to that.

Socialization plays a critical part in determining whether a person is able to fit into society, in developing a person’s personality, and in guiding their behavior. Obviously, this makes socialization incredibly important in a person’s development, all the way from birth to death: studies show that people are shaped both by social influences and by genes.

If somebody’s personality has been shaped more by genes than by social influences, you’d call them “undersocialized.” Imagine a socially awkward person you know; someone who seems fine in every aspect, other than a few oddities.

On the flip side, if somebody has been shaped more by social influences than by genes, you’d call them “oversocialized.” Someone who fits in the middle is just considered “well-socialized.” Take Kaszynski’s definition:

The moral code of our society is so demanding that no one can think, feel and act in a completely moral way. For example, we are not supposed to hate anyone, yet almost everyone hates somebody at some time or other, whether he admits it to himself or not. Some people are so highly socialized that the attempt to think, feel and act morally imposes a severe burden on them. In order to avoid feelings of guilt, they continually have to deceive themselves about their own motives and find moral explanations for feelings and actions that in reality have a nonmoral origin. We use the term “oversocialized” to describe such people.

Industrial Society and its Future, pgph. 25

He then goes on to argue that “oversocialization can lead to low self-esteem, a sense of powerlessness, defeatism, guilt, etc.” and that this is one of the key personality features of some powerful figures of the political left. Somebody who is oversocialized tends to feel guilt when non-social thoughts or activities come across their minds. Feelings of hatred, or even slacking off at work, provides such guilt for the oversocialized person that they need to justify it somehow.

effects of oversocialization

The oversocialized person also has no problems with harming the individual “for the good of the society.” They can be seen belittling others who don’t follow all of society’s rules, or enacting violence on those who disagree with them. It’s not about morality, even though that’s what they would have you believe.

It’s about the person’s own feelings of guilt and powerlessness in this society. It’s an attempt to bring others down to their level, and a feeble and hypocritical attempt at rebelling against the status quo, even though this person is maintaining the status quo by doing so.

On a slightly unrelated note, it never made sense to me to use force to change peoples’ minds.

You can read the original text on oversocialization here. Kaszynski includes other points that I don’t feel like discussing here. Keep in mind this was written in 1995.

agents of socialization

There are six:

1. Family
2. Schools
3. Media
4. Religion
5. Political parties
6. The state

(source)

#3 stands out as one I’ve been outspoken against. The preceding Wikipedia article has important facts about the effects of media on socialization, if you’d like to read further.

is he right?

I’d say so, but also don’t let me just tell you that. Read through his writing and make your own decision. I’m not here to socialize you.