1. Political Opinions and Public Opinion1

2. HOW DO WE GET OUR POLITICAL OPINIONS AND VALUES?
Through political socialization
Def: process by which an individual acquires his/her political
orientations—knowledge, attitudes, opinions
occurs at both the individual and community level
life long process
attitudes & values formed early in life
variety of agents contribute to shaping 3

3. SOURCES (AGENTS) OF POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION
FAMILY SCHOOLS
Strongest
Correlation between parent’s party
affiliation and child’s party affiliation
Less of a correlation on civil liberties and racial issues
Fairly equal influence of mother and father
When parents differ, child tends to associate w/beliefs of parent with whom he/she more closely identifies
Convey basic values (e.g., civic duty,
patriotism)
RELIGION
Protestant
Generally more conservative
Evangelicals, especially, are most conservative on social issues
Catholic
Traditionally more liberal, but moving right
Greater acceptance of Catholics, greater inclusion into mainstream of society, and increasing importance of various social issues (abortion, gay rights) >> greater degree of conservatism
Becoming race-related (Hispanic Catholics voted 67/26 D; White Catholics voted 60/27 R in 2016).
MASS MEDIA
Wide exposure to papers, Internet, movies, TV
Media provides link between individuals
and values/behavior of others
In 2000 attention was directed to problems of voting systems, Electoral College
Jewish
o Liberal influence, support for the Democratic Party 4

4. Agents of Socialization
THE FAMILY
The family is the most important agent of political socialization
Most students think of themselves as independent voters but most will align themselves with the same leanings as their parents
Almost 70% of all voters will identify with the same party as their parents
EDUCATION
Class elections, students government, social studies class play a key role in teaching students the values of liberty, equality, individualism and democracy
College graduates have a higher level of political participation than do other American
SOCIAL GROUPS
Black & White Americans differ on issues (affirmative action, race relations)
Religious groups differ on issues (same-sex marriage, school prayer, abortion)
Men and women differ on issues (healthcare reform, defense budgets)
THE MEDIA
The Mass Media has been referred to as the “new Parent”
Along with the internet, mass media is now the chief source of information among those under the age of 30

5. Family
What do we mean???
How important??

6. Family Our first political ideas are shaped within the family.
Parents seldom “talk politics” with their young children directly, but casual remarks made around the dinner table or while helping with homework can have an impact.
Family tradition is particularly a factor in party identification, as indicated by the phrases “lifelong Republican” and “lifelong Democrat.”
The family may be losing its power as an agent of socialization, however, as institutions take over more of child care and parents perform less of it.

7. Education
What do we mean???
How important??

8. Education
Children are introduced to elections and voting when they choose class officers, and the more sophisticated elections in high school and college teach the rudiments of campaigning.
Political facts are learned through courses in American history and government, and schools, at their best, encourage students to critically examine government institutions.
Schools themselves are involved in politics; issues such as curriculum reform, funding, and government support for private schools often spark a debate that involves students, teachers, parents, and the larger community.

9. Peers
What do we mean???
How important??

10. Peers
Although peer pressure certainly affects teenagers' lifestyles, it is less evident in developing their political values.
Exceptions are issues that directly affect them, such as the Vietnam War during the 1960s.
Later, if peers are defined in terms of occupation, then the group does exert an influence on how its members think politically.
For example, professionals such as teachers or bankers often have similar political opinions, particularly on matters related to their careers.

11. Media
What do we mean???
How important??

12. Media Influences
Much of our political information comes from the mass media: newspapers, magazines, radio, and television, Internet.
The amount of time the average American family watches TV makes it the dominant information source.
TV not only helps shape public opinion by providing news and analysis, but also its entertainment programming addresses important contemporary issues that are in the political arena, such as drug use, abortion, and crime.

13. Race and Ethnic Differences
What do we mean???
How important??

14. Race and Ethnic Differences
Self-interest plays a significant role in attitudes on racial policies.
Racial and ethnic minorities tend to favor affirmative action programs, designed to equalize income, education, professional opportunity, and the receipt of government contracts.
Because such policies make it easier for members of minority groups, such as African Americans and Hispanics, to get good jobs and become affluent, group members naturally support them at a high rate.
Polls taken before and after the verdict in the O.J. Simpson criminal trial showed that an overwhelming majority of African Americans believed that the former football star was innocent, while whites felt he was guilty by a similar majority.
These results reflect deep differences between the two groups in their perceptions of the judicial system and the role of the police in society.

15. Race and Ethnic Differences
Supporters defend affirmative action as a way to eliminate ongoing racial discrimination, make up for historical discrimination, and/or increase diversity in businesses and institutions.
Americans of European, Asian, or Middle Eastern descent, by contrast, are much more likely to see such programs as reverse discrimination that punishes them for their ethnic backgrounds.
A similar pattern is seen in political party affiliation.
Beginning with the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt, African Americans switched their allegiance from the Republicans, the “party of Lincoln,” to the Democrats

16. Religion
What do we mean???
How important??

17. Religion
The concept of the separation of church and state does not prevent religion from acting as a force in American politics.
Strongly held beliefs affect the stand individuals take on issues such as public school prayer and state aid to private or parochial schools.
Religion can also determine attitudes on abortion and gay and lesbian rights, irrespective of other factors.
It is important to recognize, however, that the major religious groups in the United States—Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish as well as the growing Islamic—have their own liberal and conservative wings that frequently oppose each other on political issues.

18. Gender
What do we mean???
How important??

19. Gender
Gender gap, a term that refers to the varying political opinions men and women hold, is a recent addition to the American political lexicon.
Unmarried women hold political views distinct from those of men and married women, views that lead them to support the Democratic party at a disproportionate rate.
Studies indicate that more women than men approve of gun control, want stronger environmental laws, oppose the death penalty, and support spending on social programs.
These “compassion” issues are usually identified with the Democratic party.

20. SES
What do we mean???
How important??

21. Social/Economic Differences (SES) and Education Level
All Americans generally favor a limited government and emphasize the ability of everyone to succeed through hard work.
But, low-income Americans tend to endorse a stronger economic role for the federal government than do wealthier Americans, particularly by supporting programs such as welfare and increases in the minimum wage.

22. SES/Education Level
Wealthier Americans are the ones who mostly pay for social programs, and they naturally want to hold down their tax burden.
Nevertheless, even low-income Americans are less likely to consider redistribution of wealth a valid governmental task than are adults socialized in other industrialized countries (such as European nations).
This belief in individual responsibility may overcome a worker's self-interest in endorsing large social programs.

23. Section/Region
What do we mean???
How important??

24. Section/Region
The region of the country a person lives in can affect political attitudes.
The Southern states tend to support a strong defense policy, a preference reinforced by the presence of many military installations in the region.
The South's traditional conservatism was recognized in Richard Nixon's so-called Southern strategy, which began the process of strengthening the Republican party in the region.
Moreover, issues that are vital in one particular region generate little interest in others—agricultural price supports in the Midwest or water rights and access to public lands in the West, for example.
Questions about Social Security and Medicare have an added importance in the Sunbelt states with their high percentage of older adults.

25. Age
What do we mean???
How important??

26. Age
Think of the different views between a 25 year old father and a 70 year old grandfather!
Elderly tend to oppose increases in public school spending while supporting Social Security & Medicare increases.
Strong political lobby in the AARP
While some younger people concerned that Social Security won’t be around when they retire, favor changes, public school financing, etc. many are apathetic and disconnected

27. Events
What do we mean???
How important??

28. Events
Events like Watergate, the Vietnam War, Iran/Contra affair, Whitewater, and assorted corruption within Washington has led to a distrust of those in Washington among some age groups.
Recently events like 9-11 and the War on Terror have had an effect on political beliefs.