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

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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

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Figure 8.3

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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