1. Political Socialization The process through which an individual acquires particular political orientations The learning process by which people acquire their political beliefs

2. Political Socialization Factors Family School and Peers Mass Media Religion Race/Ethnicity Gender Age Region

3. Family Influence is based on 2 factors –Communication –Receptivity Learn parent’s political values at a young age 10 - 11 yrs. Children become more selective in their perceptions of the president –Rep. Households - critical of Dem. president and visa versa.

4. School and Peers School teacher’s respect for nation & symbols helps build patriotism at a young age “Weekly Reader” for elementary students fosters political awareness and civic duty Peers have largest impact from middle school to high school College has a liberalizing effect because students are called on to question actions and policies

5. Freshmen : Liberal leanings –29.0% - 2009 –27.3% - 2010 –27.6% - 2011 Freshmen: Conservative leanings –21.8% - 2009 –21.7% - 2010 –20.7% - 2011 Majority: middle of the road http://chronicle.com/article/Changes-in- Political-Views-of/130462/

6. Mass Media Taking on a growing role Adult Americans spend 30 hours/week in front of the TV (children even higher) 40%+ of those polled got their candidate info from Daily Show and late night TV Choose to Lose, Rock the Vote, Vote or die designed to improve voter turnout in youth

7. Social Media - 2012 45% under 30 voters have encouraged other to vote on social media 29% under 30 voters announced their vote on social media 68% of voters under 30 reported the Internet as their major source of campaign info. http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/11/0 6/social-media-and-voting

8. Religion 83% of all Americans over 18 consider themselves affiliated with a religion (07-Pew) –76.5% 2014 Faith-based political activity occurred on the left: Civil rights, war on poverty, abolition of death penalty in 1970’s On the right: Moral Majority and Christian Coalition played key roles in the election of Reagan in 1980’s On the right: TEA party, gay marriage 2015

9. Religion continued 2012: 51% Protest., 23% Cath., 1% other world religions, 2% Jewish, 16.1% no affiliation Jews most liberal –Democrats in 2012 captured 69% of Jewish vote: drop from 2008 - 78% Protestant most conservative –Republicans in 2012 captured 57% Protest. Vote, increase from 2008 – 54% Pew Research Center

10. Race / Ethnicity Young black children show positive feelings about American society – considerable lessening over time - race and racial discrimination have broken down trust in American democracy. –Ferguson, MO/NY/CA/OH/WI/GA/OK/SC/ Hispanic and Native Am. hold similar opinions –Both have high % poverty rates and targets of discrimination Cuban Americans in Florida more likely to be conservative – Marco Rubio Mexican-Americans are more likely to be liberal

11. Gender Women hold very different opinions than men http://www.people-press.org/2012/03/29/the-gender-gap-three-decades- old-as-wide-as-ever/ Unmarried women tend to be Dem - 62% March 2012 - Dem: 49% men / 58% wm. Rep: 46% men / 38% wm. Wm. Age 18-50: Dem 64% / Rep 33% 50-64: 58% / 36% 65 & up: 48% / 49% *No change with incomePew Research

12. Age Senior Citizens, due to better health care, are becoming a political force –AARP –Defeat school tax increases –Pass tax breaks for themselves –Increases in Medical benefits and SS –Some fear & some welcome healthcare reform Senior Citizens vote more – 70% / 38% As boomers age, this group will become even larger and more influential https://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/p20-573.pdf

13. Region Immigrant settlements lead to regional influence Most dramatic regional difference is between North and South City is more liberal, rural more conservative Republican: South, West and Midwest Democrats: Northeast, West Coast

14. Impact of Events JFK assassination Challenger explosion Oklahoma City bombing Nixon resignation Fall of the Berlin Wall Iran / Contra Clinton Impeachment 9/11 - War on Terrorism Domestic surveillance / wikileaks / Snowden Can lead to faith or distrust in government

15. IDEOLOGY Gallup Poll 2013 –38% identify themselves as conservative –34% identify themselves as moderate –23% identify themselves as liberal Gallup Poll 2015 –31% identify as very conservative/conservative –31% identify as very liberal/liberal http://www.gallup.com/poll/183386/social- ideology-left-catches-right.aspx

16. Are we predisposed to Political Beliefs? http://www.scientificamerican.com/arti cle.cfm?id=are-we-predisposed-to- political-beliefs&ref=rss What do you think?