Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
- Analyze how political socialization is discussed in contemporary comparative public opinion research
Public Opinion
Public opinion collectively refers to the views and opinions of the public at large. In the context of political science, inherent questions focus on the views regarding elected officials or public figures, political institutions, policy preferences, or the nature of democracy itself. Some examples include, but of course are not limited to, ‘whether or not you approve of the U.S. President’s job approval’, ‘support for a nationwide mask or vaccine mandates’, ‘support for a border wall’, or ‘beliefs in the legitimacy of one home country’s elections. If a public official continually ignores his or her constituents, then there is the possibility of a negative backlash or electoral defeat in the next election.
The public can have mass opinions on different sorts of subjects, such as sports. However, recently non-political things have become increasingly politicized in the United States. Thus, knowing the public’s opinion is valuable knowledge that elected officials should take into account when determining what issues to focus on, and how to go about solving problems.
Where do our opinions come from?
Where do our opinions come from? Most people derive their opinions from their beliefs and attitudes that form in early childhood. These core views and values guide us in how we make decisions or interpret the world. For example, one may believe in a higher power or God. Someone may have a strong belief in equality. While others may believe that American football is the greatest sport ever invented.
Attitudes also create opinions. For example, someone who has had negative experiences with the police may have a suspicious attitude regarding law enforcement. Conversely, someone who has had a good experience with the police may have a positive attitude or trust law enforcement. As our beliefs and attitudes take shape during childhood development, we are also being socialized, that is, learning how to respond to the world around us, either in thought or action.
Political Socialization
As defined in Chapter Six, political socialization is the process by which our political beliefs are formed over time.
- Parents and siblings are our largest sources of information throughout early childhood. For example, children who grow up in households where voting is expected will likely take a greater interest in voting themselves. If one’s parents are politically active in a particular political party, the child will likely share, or at least at an early age, hold many of the same beliefs.
- Education is an impactful agent because of what is experienced in an academic environment, i.e. interactions with teachers, other classmates, friends, and fellow students. If someone grows up in a predominately Evangelical Christian community, they may not meet someone who is Muslim or of a different faith until they go to school. Or, if someone lives in a community that is overwhelmingly white, they may not have previously encountered racial or ethnic diversity.
- Someone’s faith or religious belief system is impactful. For example, if someone attends church regularly, they are more likely to agree with the church’s doctrine, and that faith will more actively inform their political points of view.
- Career choice, whether or not they served in the military, as well as where someone currently lives or grew up, can also play a role.
- By choosing to focus on certain issues, the media can help us define what’s important (Cook et al., 1983). Also, someone may hold off on forming an opinion about a political issue until they have heard a trusted commentator's take on the subject.
