Socialising is not socialisation. Socialising is where you hang out with acquaintance, old or new, and have fun. Socialisation is behaviour modification.

Socialise [verb, without object]: “Mix socially with others.”

Socialisation [noun]: “The process whereby an individual learns to adjust to a group (or society) and behave in a manner approved by the group (or society). According to most social scientists, socialisation essentially represents the whole process of learning throughout the life course and is a central influence on the behaviour, beliefs, and actions of adults as well as of children.”

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Home educated students socialising, with fellow homeschoolers, in the park.

You are socialised [verb, with object] if you are able to attend a group meet and successfully interact with other people. (If you do not know how to smile and say, “Hello,” you may need additional socialisation.) You are sociable [adjective] if you enjoy hanging out with those people.

Sociable people enjoy socialising. Unsociable people do not enjoy socialising. Sociability is not an indicator of socialisation. Lots of people don’t enjoy small talk, or large gatherings. That’s okay. Socialisation is the process that enables you to be social on your own terms. Just because you know how to interact with people doesn’t mean you have to be a party animal. You can stand at the side, watch small children run around like crazy, and go home feeling exhausted by association.