Which of the following characteristics does not have a positive effect on the…

Concept

Socialization is the lifelong process through which an individual learns, internalizes, and habitually practises the values, norms, approved behaviours, and social roles of their society, allowing them to integrate smoothly into group life. A characteristic aids this process when it draws the individual closer to the group's accepted ways of thinking and acting; it works against the process when it pushes the individual toward bias, discrimination, or social distance.

Application to this question

Testing each characteristic against this idea:

• Socially approved behaviour is, by definition, behaviour the group endorses — practising it is exactly what socialization aims to instil, so it helps the process.

• Playing approved social roles means rehearsing the roles a society sanctions (as a student, a family member, a citizen); this role-taking is one of the core mechanisms through which socialization happens, so it too helps the process.

• Development of social attitude means forming attitudes that match group values — cooperation, tolerance, civic sense — which is a direct, intended outcome of successful socialization, so it also helps the process.

• Development of social prejudices means forming a rigid, unfavourable pre-judgment of a group without adequate evidence. Prejudice breeds discrimination and social distance rather than integration, so it works against the process instead of supporting it.

Cross-check

An independent check confirms the same split: ask whether more of a given trait makes a person more integrated into the group or more likely to discriminate against part of it. Approved behaviour, approved roles, and matching social attitudes all increase integration; prejudice increases discrimination. Development of social prejudices is therefore the one characteristic that does not have a positive effect on socialization.