U.S. Government and Civics / Unit 10: Public Opinion, Media and Civic Participation
10.1 Political Socialization
Notes
Political socialization is the process by which people form their political beliefs and values.
- Family is usually the strongest early influence; many people share their parents' party preference.
- Other agents: schools (civics classes, the Pledge of Allegiance), peers, religious groups, media and community organizations.
- Generational effects: major events shape the views of people who come of age during them, such as the Great Depression or the September 11 attacks.
- Life-cycle effects: people's concerns change as they age, such as caring more about retirement programs later in life.
- Political culture: widely shared American values such as individualism, equality of opportunity, free enterprise, the rule of law and limited government.
Practice
For most young people, the most important early influence on political views is:
Children often pick up their parents' values and party identity.
People who grew up during the Great Depression became strong supporters of government aid programs. This is an example of:
A shared historical event shaped a generation's views.
A 65-year-old begins paying closer attention to debates about Medicare. This best illustrates:
Concerns change as people move through stages of life.
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