Why socialisation matters
Marginalisation is rarely about a single young person's deficits. It emerges when the conditions around a young person — their relationships, community, culture, learning, and sense of belonging — are not strong enough to support participation. Socialisation is the process through which young people learn culture, form connection, and come to belong. Strengthening it is a preventative, strengths-based alternative to approaches that focus only on presenting problems.
The socialisation gap
When socialisation breaks down — through disrupted care, exclusion from school, instability, or isolation — young people can drift towards the margins. The Human Flourishing Practice™ helps organisations understand and strengthen the conditions that keep young people connected and participating.
The eight elements of the Schultz Human Flourishing Model™
Dr Carol Schultz's doctoral research identifies eight interconnected elements that, in combination, support the socialisation of young people.
Community
Belonging to and participating in community life.
Moral thinking
Navigating moral questions and contradictions.
Culture
Connection to and understanding of culture.
The individual
The young person's own identity, strengths, and agency.
Life-long learning
Engagement with learning across the whole of life.
Modern pressures
Understanding the contemporary pressures shaping young people.
Values, principles and practices
The values and principles that guide living well.
Adaptation to change
The capacity to adapt to change.
Together these elements offer a shared, strengths-based language for understanding what a young person needs to participate and flourish.