1. Political Socialization & Public Opinion
Chapter 5
Political Socialization & Public Opinion

2. Chapter 5 Objectives
Define Political Socialization and identify the main sources (agents) in the developing of it.
Explain why there are crosscutting cleavages between liberals and conservatives in this country. Assess the significances of race, ethnicity, and gender in explaining political attitudes.
Identify the five key criteria that must be met in designing and interpreting Public Opinion Polls as well as types of bias found in those polls.

3. Political Socialization
The learning process in which individuals become aware of politics and form political values
Define
Brainstorm list of Socializing Agents

4. The “Pregnant Nun” and Influencing Agents of Political Socialization
Assignment
Using pages Identify the 4 Agents of Political Socialization.
For Each Agent, identify 5 facts/stats regarding its role in Political Socialization.
(ex. Party ID and Family)
Identify the Ideology of the “Pregnant Nun”
For each of the 7 symbols used to reflect her P.I.:
identify which Agent of Political Socialization it reflects
Explain how the Agent of P.S. helped shape the P.I. of our Pregnant Nun

5. Family # 1 predictor Age process begins As grow older Recent Influence
Decline since 1950’s b/c
“Radical” and Elite parents

6. Religion Breakdown Why? Christian Coalition Catholic Protestant Jewish
Social Status
Religious Tradition
Christian Coalition

7. Gender Gap Shift in political identification Why?
1950’s women more Rep. Than men
Since 1960’s more Dem.
Why?
Parties change stance on key issues
Gun Control, War
Gap not always evident
Gender sensitive issues not at forefront

8. Schooling and Information
College =
More Prestigious College =
Length in College =
Study social Science as opposed to physical science and engineering =
WHY?
Information
College Teaches Liberalism
Nature of Academia

9. Cross-Cutting Cleavages
Cleavages in public opinion
No single feature of an individual's life (such as social class) explains all (or even most) of that individual's attitudes.
Create Divisions in public opinion
Among the important cleavages are:
Social Class/Occupation
Race/Ethnicity
Region

10. Social Class/Occupation
Class Differences
“Blue-Color” vs. “White-Color”
Decline since 1950’s
Class/Income less of Cleavage
Why?
Occupation is replaced by “schooling”
“Upper class” exposed to “liberalism”
Cultural War issues = non-economic

11. Race/Ethnicity Blacks = Liberal on: Hispanic Asian
Busing, housing discrimination, death penalty, national defense
Most consistent liberal group (little cleavage among Blacks; even rich and poor; Gender)
Hispanic
Traditional liberal (2004 saw shift)
Asian
Conservative

12. Region “Solid South” has transformed
“Dixicrats” and Democrats of 50’s-1980’s (economic issues)
Nixon and the “Southern Strategy”
More Conservative since “social” issues began to dominate politics. Also more accommodating “small business”

13. Characteristics Public Opinion
Public Attitude Can vary over time, and often dramatically.
P.O. places boundaries on allowable types of public policy.
When asked, citizens are willing to express opinions on matters outside their expertise.
Governments DO respond.
Governments DO not respond.

14. The Art of Public Opinion Polling pg. 116
5 key criteria in designing and interpreting polls
Random Sampling
Questions must be comprehensible
Questions must be asked fairly
Answers offered to person must be chosen carefully
Sampling Errors

15. Types of Bias in Polling
6 types of Bias found in polling
Testimonial
Mudslinging
Transfer
Card Staking
Glittering Generalizations
Contrast Question or Sandwich question

16. Religion as a Political Socializing Agent
Fourth National Survey of Religion and Politics
Bliss Institute University of Akron, March-May 2004
Religion as a Political Socializing Agent
% of US
Political
Population
Affiliation
Republican
Democratic
Independent
Evangelical Protestant
26.30%
56%
27%
17%
Mainline Protestant
16.00%
44%
38%
18%
Latino Protestant
2.80%
37%
43%
20%
Black Protestant
9.60%
11%
71%
Catholic
17.50%
41%
15%
Latino Catholic
4.50%
61%
24%
Other Christian
2.70%
42%
22%
36%
Other Faiths
12%
55%
33%
Jewish
1.90%
21%
68%
Unaffiliated
30%
BACK

17. Political Socialization & Cleavages
Fourth National Survey of Religion and Politics
Bliss Institute University of Akron, March-May 2004
% of US
Political
Population
Affiliation
Republican
Democratic
Independent
Evangelical Protestant
26.30%
56%
27%
17%
Mainline Protestant
16.00%
44%
38%
18%
Latino Protestant
2.80%
37%
43%
20%
Black Protestant
9.60%
11%
71%
Catholic
17.50%
41%
15%
Latino Catholic
4.50%
61%
24%
Other Christian
2.70%
42%
22%
36%
Other Faiths
12%
55%
33%
Jewish
1.90%
21%
68%
Unaffiliated
30%
BACK

18. BACK
Top bar
Bottom bar
Figure 8.3

19. Extended Response Questions
Chapter 4
Explain the term political culture. Why is it important to examine political culture as well as political institutions and laws to understand a political system?
The U.S. political culture emphasizes the importance of civic duty. This belief has no validity unless political efficacy exists in reality. First, discuss the degree to which the American public possesses a sense of political efficacy. Is the cultural value of civic duty legitimately realized in the opinion of the public?

20. Extended Response Questions
Chapter 5
List and explain the symbolism behind the caricature “Pregnant Nun” that represents our Political Socialization.
The text examines both the formation of and cleavages in political Socialization. Discuss how the factors accounting for the formation of political Socialization also contribute to the cleavages that have developed in public opinion.

21. Public Opinion & Polling
Gagging Public Opinion is difficult
Lack of info and efficacy
Changes
Art of Public Opinion Polling ( pg 116)
Must be Random Sample
Question must be comprehensible
Question must be asked fairly (clear language, no emotional words or loaded language)
Answer categories must be carefully considered
Must control sampling Error