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Chapter 5
Political Socialization & Public Opinion
Chapter 5 Objectives
1. Define Political Socialization and identify the main sources (agents) in the developing of it.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Political Socialization
Define
Brainstorm list of Socializing Agents
The learning process in which The learning process in which individuals become aware of politics and individuals become aware of politics and form political valuesform political values
The “Pregnant Nun” and Influencing Agents of Political Socialization
Assignment
A. Using pages 106-111 Identify the 4 Agents of Political Socialization.
B. For Each Agent, identify 5 facts/stats regarding its role in Political Socialization.
(ex. Party ID and Family)
C. Identify the Ideology of the “Pregnant Nun”D. 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
Family
# 1 predictor Age process begins As grow older Recent Influence
• Decline since 1950’s b/c
• “Radical” and Elite parents
Religion
Breakdown• Catholic
• Protestant
• Jewish Why?
• Social Status
• Religious Tradition Christian Coalition
Gender Gap
Shift in political identification • 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
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
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
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
Race/Ethnicity
Blacks = Liberal on:• 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
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”
Characteristics Public Opinion
1. Public Attitude Can vary over time, and often dramatically.
2. P.O. places boundaries on allowable types of public policy.
3. When asked, citizens are willing to express opinions on matters outside their expertise.
4. Governments DO respond.
5. Governments DO not respond.
The Art of Public Opinion Polling pg. 116
5 key criteria in designing and interpreting polls
1. Random Sampling2. Questions must be comprehensible3. Questions must be asked fairly4. Answers offered to person must be
chosen carefully5. Sampling Errors
Types of Bias in Polling
6 types of Bias found in polling
1. Testimonial
2. Mudslinging
3. Transfer
4. Card Staking
5. Glittering Generalizations
6. Contrast Question or Sandwich question
Fourth National Survey of Religion and PoliticsBliss Institute University of Akron, March-May 2004
% of US Political Political Political
Population
Affiliation Affiliation 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% 18%
Catholic 17.50% 41% 44% 15%
Latino Catholic 4.50% 15% 61% 24%
Other Christian 2.70% 42% 22% 36%
Other Faiths 2.70% 12% 55% 33%
Jewish 1.90% 21% 68% 11%
Unaffiliated 16.00% 27% 43% 30%
Religion as a Political Socializing Agent
BACK
Fourth National Survey of Religion and PoliticsBliss Institute University of Akron, March-May 2004
% of US Political Political Political
Population
Affiliation Affiliation 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% 18%
Catholic 17.50% 41% 44% 15%
Latino Catholic 4.50% 15% 61% 24%
Other Christian 2.70% 42% 22% 36%
Other Faiths 2.70% 12% 55% 33%
Jewish 1.90% 21% 68% 11%
Unaffiliated 16.00% 27% 43% 30%
Political Socialization & Cleavages
BACK
Figure 8.3
BACK
Top bar
Bottom bar
Extended Response Questions
Chapter 41. 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?
2. 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?
Extended Response Questions
Chapter 51. List and explain the symbolism behind the
caricature “Pregnant Nun” that represents our Political Socialization.
2. 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.
Public Opinion & Polling Gagging Public Opinion is difficult Lack of info and efficacy ChangesArt of Public Opinion Polling ( pg 116)1. Must be Random Sample2. Question must be comprehensible3. Question must be asked fairly (clear language, no
emotional words or loaded language)4. Answer categories must be carefully considered5. Must control sampling Error