Study on International Comparison of the Socialization Process During Adolescence II

1. Study on International Comparison of the Socialization Process During AdolescenceII Researchers-in-Charge: Kim Hyeon-cheol and Kim Eun-jeong

2. Purpose of the Research • To explore the problems faced by the Korean youth in their process of socialization, and to come up with political alternatives as means to solve their problems. As the research was performed in the second year, it focused on the comparison of the relationships of youth with their parents, teachers, and friends in Korea, USA, Germany, and Sweden during the period of 2006~2008.

3. Major Results of the Research 1) Parent-Children Relations • The parents in Korea tend to overestimate the values of learning and schoolwork achievement, and thereby internalize the logic of competition into their children which causes conflict. • Devotion of the parents to their children enhances the children’s dependability on the parents. 2) Teacher-Children Relations • The Korean youth have less satisfaction or intimacy with teachers. They have less satisfaction with their school life as well. • On the contrary, teachers were observed to feel enervated by the relationship between parents and children. 3) Friend-Children Relations • The factors associated with friend-children relations (such as forming friendships, co-shared living space, etc.) were simple in that they are centered around the school life. This was a significant difference from foreign countries. 4) In conclusion, in the case of Korean youth, the social resources mobilized for the improvement of relationships with parents, school (teachers), and friends were insufficient. In other words, there was lack of diversified activities, experiences, etc.

4. Political Suggestions • Require the organization of a three-party relationship so that “parents-teacher-pupil” communication in school with being carried out in a smooth manner. • Require the preparation of methods to remove the gap in social support by the three-party relationship coming from the gap or differecne in school and academic achievements. • Require to make the youth to be more experienced through a variety of activities inside and outside of the school including extra curriculum so that those issues come to the surface from peripheral one.