Primary socialization theory: Comments on racism, sexism, generational neglect, abuse, and abandonment

This article asks whether primary socialization theory adequately deals wit h the most distressed and disadvantaged members of society, whether for mos t of them the family, school, and peers are the primary sources of socializ ation. Children who are subjected to the effects of racism, sexism, physica l and mental abuse, inferior dangerous schools, and abandonment to foster c are from birth may find other sources of primary socialization which can be either negative and positive. "Nihilism" and "anomie" are used to describe such children's position in their societies, and the article asks if those without benefit of the three primary sources of socialization can find way s to create new and positive norms, or whether they are doomed to lives of hopelessness and deviance. [Translations are provided in the International Abstracts Section of this issue.].