1. Political Socialization Factors FamilyEvents School and PeersIdeology Mass Media Religion Race/Ethnicity Gender Age Region

2. 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 –Dem. Households - critical of Rep president and visa versa.

3. 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

4. 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 Leno, Daily Show and Letterman Choose to Lose & Rock the Vote are designed to improve voter turnout in youth 2004 - 50% of voters under 30 reported the Internet as their major source of campaign info. 2008-55%

5. Religion 84% of all Americans over 18 consider themselves affiliated with a religion 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 2nd largest predictor of the vote behind party identification

6. Religion continued 2007: 51% Protest., 24% Cath., 2.7% other world religions, 2% Jewish, 16% no affiliation Jews most liberal –Democrats in 2004 captured 74% of Jewish vote: 2008 - 78% Protestant most conservative –Republicans in 2004 captured 54% Protest. Vote: 2008 - 54% Pew Research Center

7. Race / Ethnicity Young black children show positive feelings about American society, then considerable lessening over time Black children hold the president in lower esteem than white children - updated? OJ trial (1995) revealed immense racial divide 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 Mexican-Americans are more likely to be liberal

8. Gender Women hold very different opinions than men http://www.people-press.org/typology/quiz/?pass http://www.people-press.org/typology/quiz/?pass Unmarried women tend to be liberal Women hold more negative views on war –Gap is lessening except for current war in Iraq White men are the core of the Republican party

9. 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 As boomers age, this group will become even larger and more influential

10. 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

11. Events JFK assassination Challenger explosion Okalahoma City bombing Nixon resignation Fall of the Berlin Wall 9/11 - War on Terrorism Iran / Contra Clinton Impeachment Leads to faith or distrust in government

12. Ideology 2004: Most Americans identify themselves as Moderate –35% moderate –30% liberal –29% conservative 2007: Most Americans identify themselves as Conservative –36% conservative –35 % moderate –25% liberal

13. Gallup Poll October 2011 –41% identify themselves as conservative –36% identify themselves as moderate –21% identify themselves as liberal http://www.gallup.com/poll/148745/Pol itical-Ideology-Stable-Conservatives- Leading.aspx

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