Because religious affiliation differs from one family to another, socialization in a religious group may constitute either primary or secondary socialization. According to a study by Pehr Granqvist and Berit Hagekull's, however, "parental transmission of religious standards is likely not to have been a part of the primary socialization."
If members of the religious group play an integral role in the child's life from birth and if a parent's values, attitudes and actions conform to like values, the religious socialization may provide a more primary influence. However, if a parent's values and attitudes counter those represented by the religious group, the religious socialization will be secondary and the parent will serve as the primary influence.
School provides a form of secondary socialization. When a child goes to school, she takes the influence of his primary socialization (parents and family) and uses it to make sense of what she learns from the new culture of school and the cultures represented by the individuals she encounters there.
According to a study by Ryan Hourigan PhD of Ball State University, however, if the same child grows up and becomes a teacher, her experience as a student represents primary socialization. She must adjust her perceptions and expectations formed by life as a student to life as a teacher, which represents secondary socialization.
Secondary socialization continues into adulthood. Joining clubs or sports teams, getting a job and starting a new family all exemplify secondary socialization. Sociologists such as George Gerbner, formerly of Annenberg School of Communication in Philadelphia, consider television an important and influential form of socialization. Gerbner founded the Cultivation Theory, which describes the impact television has on world views. In some cases, television can have a negative effect on the way the child views himself.
According to Amy I. Nathanson, "viewing of advertisements is related to lower self-esteem and depression among children who come from low-income families." She claims that the children likely feel bad about themselves because they cannot have the products they see advertised.