Which of the following is an example of anticipatory socialization?

• A. Taking a formal onboarding course.
• B. A college student studying criminal justice, watching police shows, or talking to officers to prepare for becoming a police officer.
• C. Receiving a performance review after starting the job.
• D. Dressing for the first day.

Answer: (B)

Anticipatory socialization is learning about and starting to adopt the behaviors, norms, and attitudes of a role before actually entering it. It’s like a rehearsal for the future position, shaping expectations and readiness.

The option described involves a college student studying criminal justice, watching police shows, and talking to officers to prepare for becoming a police officer. This is clearly pre-entry learning—the student engages with the role before officially joining, using observation, informal conversations, and coursework to build understanding and expectations about what the job entails.

The other options describe activities that typically happen after you’ve already joined the organization: formal onboarding usually occurs after starting, a performance review happens after you’re on the job, and dressing for the first day is part of the initial entry process rather than preparation for the role itself. These are not anticipatory socialization, since they don’t involve learning about the role before entry.