The socialisation and formation of self-identity is a life long process. Socialisation is a process beginning at birth and continues throughout the life cycle. By being part of society we learn the different norms and patterns of our culture. Our socialisation with society helps us to further develop our self-identity. Social agencies help us to socialise and form our self-identity. Our self-identity is the continued process of self-development and growth. This growth and development happens not only from our biological make up but also from the society we live in and the different agencies of socialisation around us. Urie Bronfenbrenner's Ecology Theory ties together our development of self from our biological and psychological make up with the environment around us - the various agencies of socialisation. Through the explanations of Bronfenbrenner's four main theories it is clear that the socialisation and formation of self identity is influence by the various social agencies.
Agencies of socialisation are groups or social settings in which processes of socialisation occur. Some of these are the family, peer groups, church, school, the media and the immediate community in which we live. (Giddens, 2001:29) .
The Microsystem is our immediate surroundings. These are the face-to-face experiences we have in our interpersonal relationships such as with parents, siblings, other family and close friends. They are also, for children, their involvement in school, church groups and their immediate community. (Berk 2000:27). For children their earliest influence is usually in most cultures, their family. (Schickedanz 2001:28) The Microsystem plays a very important part in both child development and our continued development throughout the life cycle. .
The Mesosystem is the person's interrelations between the various Microsystems. The main groups for a child would be the interaction between school and home.