Pearson Longman PoliticalScienceInteractive Shea, Green, and Smith Living Democracy, Second Edition Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Change in Action: Views of Homosexuality A month after Will and Grace ’s successful debut in 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay college student, was beaten to death because of his sexual orientation. The cast of Will and Grace holding their Emmys (2000) Memorial for Matthew Shepard (1998)

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Public Opinion Pluralistic View Believes that citizens should be informed and should participate in democratic decision making to ensure the health and vitality of the system. Elitist View Believes that complex decisions need to be made free of public pressure. The masses should be “spectators” in the process. To what extent should public opinion drive public policy?

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Public Opinion Historical Views General view that the public should be protected from rapid policy changes Contemporary Considerations Less elitist, believing that good decisions must be based on public opinion and good information The Relationship Between Public Opinion and Public Policy

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Fundamental Values Although we may share common values, we often disagree over their meaning and differ on specific policies related to these values. What types of values do Americans generally share?

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion The Stability of Political Beliefs Political Culture The set of economic, political, and governmental values and beliefs that support political institutions, processes and practices, and belief systems Public Opinion on Abortion

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Shifts in Public Opinion Cohort Replacement The process of one generation replacing another, bringing a new set of experiences, opinions

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Sexism Reconsidered The percentage of people who believe that women should have an equal role with men in running business, industry, and government, 1972–2004

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Impact of Popular Culture on Public Opinion and Values Does popular culture affect values and beliefs or do values and beliefs affect popular culture? Popular culture as a catalyst for change Popular culture as a barometer of public attitudes Interactive theory

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion From Values to Ideology Political Ideology A consistent set of fundamental beliefs about the proper purpose and scope of government Liberals Tend to support social and cultural change and want an activist government that encourages change Conservatives Tend to favor traditional views and a smaller governmental role

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Formed by eight girls, aged 13 and 14, concerned about enslaved child laborers Have freed eight children through fundraising Student Profile: One is Greater than None

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion The Conservative Movement Conservative movement was revitalized in the 1970s and 1980s Traditional conservatives and social conservatives merged to give the movement as a whole greater visibility Growth of neoconservatism

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Political Socialization The conscious and unconscious transmission of culture and values from one generation to another. A process through which people learn political information, form political knowledge, and develop political values

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Agents of Socialization Family Schools Number of times a week American families say that they eat together Schools teach an idealized view of the nation’s slogans and symbols.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Agents of Socialization Peers and Community Research shows that in heterogeneous communities, political participation tends to be higher, with more contested and competitive elections and with more political debate than in homogeneous communities. Religion Those raised in religious households tend to be socialized to contribute to society and to get involved in their communities.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Agents of Socialization Media A CNN poll found that viewers of late night television’s The Daily Show, hosted by Jon Stewart, were more informed than those who regularly read the newspaper. Events The short-term influence of events may be enormous, while the long-term impacts may be harder to gauge.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Impact of Events – September 11 The attacks of 9/11 altered public opinion in two ways: Concerns over personal safety have diminished but a general sense of fear remains Prompted a surge in patriotism and a sense of uniting in battle

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Social Groups and Political Values The existence of crosscutting cleavages makes it difficult for political scientists to say which factors are the most important in shaping particular attitudes.

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Economic Bases of Partisanship and Public Opinion The principal generalization that you can make about loyalties to the parties in modern times is that they are based primarily on socioeconomic status. Percentage of Americans Favoring Particular Public Policies, by Family Income, 2004

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Education Education tends to increase citizens’ awareness and understanding of political issues, often having a liberalizing effect on non-fiscal social issues. Percentage of Americans Favoring Particular Public Policies, by Education, 2004

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Religion Today nearly 85 percent of Americans say that they belong to an organized religion, 75 percent say that religion is important to their lives, and 95 percent say that they believe in God. Percentage of Americans Identifying with the Major Political Parties, by Religion

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Pathways Profile: Jim Wallis Founder and editor of the liberal evangelical magazine, Sojourners Created a faith-based antipoverty organization called “Call to Renewal”

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Race and Ethnicity 49 percent of white respondents think that affirmative action has gone too far, while 79 percent of minority respondents think that it is still needed. What are some of the consequences of these polarized views?

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Gender Several theories exist to explain the gender gap. Attitude Hypothesis Salience Hypothesis Situational Hypothesis

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion The Use of Polls Polls allow for a quick assessment of officials and public policies. Problems –“Spiral of Silence” –Bandwagon effect –Manipulation of data –Are a passive form of expression

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion History of Polling In 1824, the Harrisburg Pennsylvanian conducted the first “straw poll.” Modern public opinion polling began in earnest during the late 1930s, with the arrival of pollsters like George Gallup. George Gallup

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Modern Polling Techniques Two Methods of Drawing a Sample Most common: Probability sample Simple random sample Stratified sample Least scientific: Accidental sample

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Survey Research The proper wording and phrasing of the questions are vitally important to producing reliable, objective data Criteria for high-quality questions –Appropriate language and vocabulary –Neutral wording –Open-ended versus closed-ended

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Controversies Surrounding Polling After President George H. W. Bush’s 1992 State of the Union Address, CBS encouraged viewers to call in with their opinion as to whether they were better off than they were four years ago. At the same time, CBS conducted a scientific poll. Results: –Call-in poll: 54 percent said they were worse off –Scientific poll: 32 percent claimed to be worse off

Shea, Green, and Smith, Living Democracy, Second EditionCopyright 2009 Pearson Longman Chapter 10: Political Socialization and Public Opinion Pathways of Change From Around the World: MySpace and Darfur One of several organizations to address problems in Sudan Rock concerts organized around the world to raise funds