What is the method by which social values are learned and internalized?

The appropriate method by which social values are learned and internalized is enculturation. Enculturation refers specifically to the process through which individuals learn and adopt the cultural norms, values, and practices of their society. This learning happens primarily during childhood but can occur throughout an individual’s life as they interact with their environment and the people within it. Through interactions with family, peers, and community members, individuals absorb the beliefs and behavioral patterns that are prevalent in their culture.

While socialization is a broader term often associated with the process of learning social norms, it can encompass various aspects of learning, including not just cultural values but also social roles and behaviors. In this context, enculturation is a more specific concept focused solely on the absorption of culture.

Cultural relativism and ethnocentrism are concepts related to the evaluation of cultures. Cultural relativism promotes understanding that a culture should be understood based on its own values and beliefs rather than judged against another culture. Ethnocentrism, on the other hand, involves evaluating another culture based on the standards of one’s own culture, often leading to a sense of superiority. Neither of these concepts directly describes the method of learning and internalization of social values, making them unsuitable in this context.