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When it comes to being socialized, there is nothing more important than discipline to achieve this goal. The real point of socialization is to introduce the person to the rules and norms of a society. Whether it be the type of socialization that you have when you are a small child and you need to be taught how to be a functioning person in society, or the type that happens when you are trying to fit in to a new culture, you need discipline.

Why do you need discipline? The ways that humans interact with each other revolve around the rules that are set up in society. Discipline is how we get people to stay in line, and to conform to whatever rules we want them to follow. Human nature says that we are going to do what is best for the individual, yet it can be a bad decision for society in general. While we want to value the individual, we also want to do what is best for society as a whole.

Say you are driving down the road, and the speed limit says 35 miles per hour. It is late though, and you are in a hurry to get home. You figure that there is no danger in going 55 miles an hour instead. However, if you go 55 now, what is going to stop you from going 55 during the day when people are out playing, or walking the dog? Maybe your concern for those around you will cause you to realize that you can't go that fast all day, but what if you don't care?

Having the police stop you, and force you to pay a fine for speeding is going to be a deterrent for you speeding again. The rule is there for the safety of everyone, and even if you don't agree with that rule, you sill have to obey it. Having someone there to discipline you for breaking the rule is going to make you more likely to follow the rule next time you want to break. You realize that there is something bad that happens when you break a rule, and so you have to consider that.

This works even better on little kids who might not care what the rules are, or might not understand what the rules are there for. Some kid who is ansy, and wants to go to lunch might not want to stay in line. They aren't mature enough to realize that everyone has to wait because they have to go as a group. Having them stay in from recess is going to keep them from leaving the line next time, and will enforce the rule that everyone has to stay together.

There are no rules if the rules aren't enforced. If there are no rules, there is lawlessness, and that is dangerous. When there is no enforcement of the rules, it is just as bad as having no rules at all. As much of a pain as it might be to follow the rules sometimes, we all have to abide by them or face the consequences of those actions. It is the only way that a society can function, and the only way to keep everyone in line.

Learn more about this author, Cody Hodge.
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