Group differences in opinions

Important differences Race/Ethnicity Religion – Denomination – Religiosity Education Economic status Region Generation: contrast with age Gender

Classifying Opinions Economic: Liberal vs. conservative Social: Liberal vs. conservative Foreign affairs: Internationalist vs. isolationist Use of force Party identification Relation to liberal/conservative

Patterns Economic: blacks, lower income, Catholics & Jews, North (especially Northeast) more liberal Social: educated, less religious, younger generations, Northeast and West coast, women more liberal Foreign: educated more internationalist, blacks and women less in favor of force Party: Blacks, Jews, Catholics, non-religious, lower income, women more Democratic. South less.

Reasons for group differences in opinion Interests General values and beliefs Differential association Continuity of group Application to different groups in American society