Political Socialization and Public Opinion - POLI 100

What is political culture?

The widely-shared values, beliefs, and attitudes that underpin a particular political system.

What are some examples of ideas from the American founding that are respected in U.S. political culture?

Democracy, liberty, equality, individualism, capitalism, and the rule of law.

The process by which the central tenets of the political culture are transmitted from those immersed in it to those who are not is known as _.

political socialization

What are 'agents of socialization'?

The persons and settings by which political socialization is accomplished.

According to the lecture, who is considered the most important agent of political socialization?

Parents/family.

Citing Eitan Hersh (2016), what percentage of married couples share the same party affiliation?

Between 80% and 90%.

What is the typical outcome for children who receive consistent political messages from parents sharing the same party affiliation?

Only about 10% of these children join the opposition party.

Term: Public opinion

Definition: The distribution of citizen opinion on particular matters of public concern or interest.

How does socialization based on wealth affect public opinion on programs aimed at reducing inequality?

The poor and wealthy are socialized differently, leading to differing opinions on such programs.

According to political scientists, the opinions that many Americans hold on political issues are based on what?

Very little information.

What gap do political scientists often observe in U.S. public opinion?

A gap between the principles people claim to approve and the choices they make in their own lives.

What is a political ideology?

An organized and logically consistent set of beliefs that guides how a person understands and interprets the political world.

Who authored the 1964 study “The Nature of Belief Systems in Mass Publics”?

Philip Converse.

What was the central question of Philip Converse's 1964 study?

Do Americans think in ideological terms (i.e., have a coherent framework for understanding politics)?

According to Converse's 1964 findings, what percentage of Americans responded to politics from a consistent liberal or conservative perspective?

Approximately 10%.

Converse (1964) found that about two-thirds of Americans responded to politics based on what criteria?

How they, their neighbors, and the country seemed to be doing.

What is an example of ideological inconsistency found by the General Social Survey (2019)?

Most Americans say they want smaller government and lower taxes, yet want more spent on most government activities.

In the 2019 General Social Survey, 53% of respondents thought their federal income taxes were too high, yet a majority favored increased spending on what specific program?

Education (favored by 72%).

The 2012 study 'Ideology In America' by Ellis and Stimson found that which ideological group tends to be more ideologically inconsistent?

Conservatives.

According to Ellis and Stimson (2012), why are many conservatives attracted to the political identity despite supporting an active government?

The identity captures cherished qualities like personal responsibility, respect for tradition, and religious commitments.

Define the political ideology of a 'liberal'.

Someone who generally favors government involvement in economic and social life to assure equal opportunity and assistance to those in need.

Define the political ideology of a 'conservative'.

Someone who generally favors small government, low taxes, free enterprise, and traditional values.

Define the political ideology of a 'libertarian'.

Someone who generally favors minimal government involvement in the social and economic lives of individuals.

On what major issue do libertarians and conservatives generally agree?

That government should be small and inexpensive.

On what major principle do libertarians and liberals generally agree?

That government should expand and protect individual liberties.