What is the term for the process where individuals learn the skills, beliefs, and behavior patterns of society?

The term that describes the process through which individuals learn the skills, beliefs, and behavior patterns of society is socialization. This process is fundamental in shaping an individual's identity, values, norms, and expectations within a given social context. Socialization occurs through various agents such as family, schools, peers, and media, effectively enabling individuals to understand and navigate their societal environment.

Socialization is essential for the continuation of culture and social structure, as it ensures that individuals absorb the collective norms and values that allow them to function in society. This process begins in early childhood and continues throughout one's life as individuals encounter new social contexts and changes.

Other terms like adaptation, cultural assimilation, and segregation describe different social phenomena. Adaptation refers to the adjustments individuals or groups make in response to changing environments, cultural assimilation involves the process by which a minority group adopts the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture, and segregation denotes the separation of different groups within a society. None of these concepts encapsulates the comprehensive learning process of societal norms and behaviors as well as socialization does.