Public Opinion - Summary

Public Opinion

Understanding Public Opinion

  • Public opinion: Values and attitudes people hold about issues, events, and personalities.
  • Values: Basic political orientations (e.g., low spending, less government).
  • Political ideology: Cohesive beliefs forming a government philosophy (e.g., communist vs. liberal).
  • Attitude: Specific view on an issue, personality, or event.

Political Socialization

  • Political socialization: Process of forming underlying political beliefs and values.
  • Agents of socialization:
    1. Family (largest contributor)
    2. Social Groups
    3. School
    4. Church
    5. Psychology
    6. Genetics
    7. Rationality - self interest
    8. Rationality - critical evaluation

Rationality

  • Self-interested rationality: Beliefs based on personal gain.
  • Critical evaluation rationality: Beliefs from acquired information and evaluating opposition.

Information Shortcuts & Cognitive Dissonance

  • Information shortcuts: Reliance on shortcuts to inform beliefs due to time constraints.
  • Cognitive dissonance: Seeking information that aligns with existing beliefs.

What is Opinion?

  • Opinions: Verbal expressions of attitudes.
  • Attitudes: Built on values.
  • Two parts to attitudes:
    1. Affective: Emotional component (like/dislike).
    2. Cognitive: Knowledge, information component.

Fundamental Values

  1. Liberty: Freedom from governmental control.
  2. Equality of opportunity: Freedom to use talents and wealth.
  3. Democracy: Citizen participation in government.

Forming Political Opinions

  • Ideology's role: Issues framed in multiple ways.
  • Political socialization & Background characteristics
  • Social and political context
  • Political knowledge

Shaping Public Opinion

  • Three sources of influence:
    1. Political leaders
    2. Private groups
    3. The media

Measurement

  • Polling requirements:
    • Random Sample
    • Sample Size
    • Question wording
  • Incorrect Polls
    • Social desirability effects
    • Selection bias
    • Push polling
    • Bandwagon effect

Political Ideologies

  • Ideology: Beliefs about the proper role of government.
  • Two main U.S. ideologies: Modern liberalism and conservatism.

Modern Liberalism

  • Support:
    • Governmental intervention in the economy.
    • More economic equality.
    • Expansion of federal services.
    • Concern for consumers and environment.

Modern Conservatism

  • Support:
    • Social and economic status quo.
    • Limited government.
  • Oppose:
    • Wealth redistribution.
    • Favor light business and industry regulation, low taxes for higher earners, traditional family structures, and school prayer.
  • Support:
    • Stronger military power and spending.
    • Less supportive of international organizational efforts and entanglements.

Other U.S. Ideologies

  • Libertarianism: Emphasizes freedom and small government.
  • Socialism: Emphasizes social ownership and strong government.