Political Socialization Learning the community
How do we get our opinions? Political socialization The process of Acquiring political attitudes, ideas & beliefs Learning political information Organizing political knowledge Developing political values Becoming a part of the body politic The conscious and unconscious transmission of political culture and values from one generation to the next Continuous process Begins with our first exposure to the body politic in question Does not end until we leave the body politic Death migration
Agents of political socialization Family School Peers Community Religion Media Specific Events
What influences our opinions? Economic factors Income Expenditures Trade or Profession ‘class’ Geographic factors Urban, Suburban, or Rural Proximity to International Border Coastal or Inland North, South, East, or West Ecology & Climate
What influences our opinions? Demographic factors Gender Age Life Cycle effect Generational effect Specific historical events Generational culture Race or ethnicity Level of education Religion Political factors Ideology Partisanship Salience of issues Cues from acknowledged leaders