During which socialization stage are new employees expected to adopt and internalize the organization's values and norms?

• A. Pre-arrival
• B. Encounter
• C. Metamorphosis
• D. Integration

Answer: (C)

Internalizing an organization's values and norms happens when a newcomer moves from learning about the culture to adopting it as part of their own behavior and identity. This stage, often called metamorphosis, is where the employee begins to embody the organization's beliefs, adapt their actions to fit expected norms, and fully accept the cultural context as their own. They start using the organization's language, follow its rituals, and align daily practices with what is valued, so they no longer just know the culture—they live it.

Earlier stages set the stage: pre-arrival is about forming expectations before joining, and the encounter phase is where reality is confronted and adjustments are made. Integration is sometimes used to describe the end result of socialization—the employee is fully embedded—but the specific process of adopting and internalizing values occurs during metamorphosis, making it the best fit for this question.