PUBLIC OPINION:Introduction & Political Socialization

CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC OPINIONPublic attitudes toward a given government

policy can vary over time, often dramaticallyPublic opinion places boundaries on

allowable types of public policyIf asked by pollsters, citizens are willing to

register opinions on matters outside their expertise

CHARACTERISTICS OF PUBLIC OPINIONGovernments tend to respond to public

opinion Example – death penaltyMajoritarian politics

The government sometimes does not do what the public wants Example – Court declared school prayer

unconstitutionalPluralist politics

WHAT IS PUBLIC OPINION???Collected attitudes of citizens concerning a

given issue or questionsPolling is a relatively new feature of

American lifeBefore polling, most observers used newspaper

stories, politicians’ speeches and voting in order to determine public opinion

PUBLIC OPINION & THE FRAMERSPublic opinion during the Revolution

40% supported 20% opposed40% neutral

Public opinion was built into our government by a directly elected House of RepresentativesThis would reflect public opinion on crucial

issues like taxes and spending

DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC OPINION: SKEWED DISTRIBUTION

Asymmetrical but generally bell shaped distribution

Most frequent response lies off to one side

Indicates homogeneity of opinion

RIGHT – Opinions on Death Penalty

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10

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60

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80

Favor Don'tKnow

Oppose

DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC OPINION: BIMODAL DISTRIBUTION

Distribution that shows two responses being chosen about as frequently as each other

Provides potential for political conflict

RIGHT: Position on Gay Marriage

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5

10

15

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45

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Favor Don'tKnow

Oppose

DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC OPINION: NORMAL DISTRIBUTION

Symmetrical bell-shaped distribution centered on a single mode, or frequent response

Public tends to support a moderate government policy It will tolerate policies

that lean slightly left or right

RIGHT – Ideology Self-Placement

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ExtremelyLiberal

Moderate ExtremelyConservative

STABLE DISTRIBUTIONDistribution that shows little change over

timeWhen different questions on the same issue

produce similar distribution of opinions, underlying attitudes are stable

When the same question produces significantly different responses over time, a shift in public opinion has probably occured

WHAT MAKES THESE QUESTIONS BIASED?“Are you in favor of killing babies?” in an

abortion survey.“Would you say that Bill Clinton clobbered

Bob Dole in the last election?” in a postelection poll.

“Do you like the President?” in a presidential approval rating.

“Whom did you vote for in the last election?” to assess partisan affiliation.

THINK BACK. . .What is your earliest memory of a president?When did you first learn about political

parties?Do you identify with a particular political

party? How did you decide to do so?

WHAT IS POLITICAL SOCIALIZATION??Complex process by which people acquire

their political valuesMost people are exposed to the same sources

of influence (agents of socialization)FamilySchoolCommunityPeersTelevision

AGENTS OF EARLY SOCIALIZATION: FAMILYMost important agent of political socializationChildren tend to learn their social, moral,

religious economic and political values from their parents

Parents who are interested in politics and public affairs tend to influence their children to become more politically aware

Children tend to identify with the political party of their parentsIf they switch, they likely identify themselves as

Independent

THESE AREN’T YOUR GRANDFATHER’S POLITICS!!Since the 1950’s, the number of people

willing to identify themselves as Democrat or Republican has decreased

Children are less likely to share their parent’s attitudes on issues involving civil liberties and racial issues.

Are you pondering what I’m pondering. . . Why might children and parents differ on ideas of civil liberties and race?

AGENTS OF EARLY SOCIALIZATION: ELEMENTARY SCHOOLPrepare children to accept the social order

Introduction to authority figures outside the family (i.e. principal, teacher, etc)

Students learn the nation’s slogans and symbolsPledge of Allegiance, flag, holidays

Stress the norms of group behavior and democratic decision makingRespecting each other’s opinion

Stress on political equality

AGENTS OF EARLY SOCIALIZATION: SECONDARY SCHOOLTeachers challenge students to think

critically about American government and politics

Students become more politically aware of the process and prominent participants in the political process

Teachers try to build children’s trust in the political processExternal factors can oftentimes erode that trust

AGENTS OF SOCIALIZTION: COMMUNITY & PEERSCommunity – people of all ages with whom

you come in contact because of proximityHomogenous communities can exert pressure

on children and adults to conform to the dominant attitude of the community

Peers – friends, classmates, coworkersPeers can provide a defense against community

pressure

HERE’S A THOUGHT??As Americans, are we duped by the media

into thinking one way or another??