Agents of Socialization PDF

Agents of Socialization Def. The agents that have a significant impact on citizens’ political socialization. Primary Agents: Parents and families (#1 influence!) Schools Religious Organizations Secondary Agents: Peer Groups Media Leaders Primary Socializing Agents Family: Main influe...

Agents of Socialization Def. The agents that have a significant impact on citizens’ political socialization. Primary Agents: Parents and families (#1 influence!) Schools Religious Organizations Secondary Agents: Peer Groups Media Leaders Primary Socializing Agents Family: Main influence for early life. Political leanings developed early, later given reasons. Child absorbs party identification of family but becomes more independent with age Much continuity exists between generations Recently: Declining ability to pass on identification Younger voters exhibit less partisanship; more likely to be independent Meaning of partnership unclear in most families; less influence on policy preferences Few families pass on clear ideologies  Parents prepare kids for their future role as voters. They make them more involved in early age to increase participation later. Parents communicate with their children frequently , and children are extremely dependent on the approval of their parents and other family members for the development of emotional and intellectual maturity and stability.  When a child see an image of the president on TV (I like his smile), parents responds with a smile or verbal agreement. Negative attitudes towards individual or political views are reinforced by parents actions, Behaviors as well.  If both parents actively participate in campaigns and elections, in a regular basis, child is likely to participate regularly as an adult. Parents construct (family identity) that include partisan identification or approval of a specific political candidate.  Recent studies show that Americans children have positive feelings toward the political system, they perceives government and political figures as powerful, trustful, competent and benign. African American children held a different views and image, because of lack of trust and lack of equal rights transmitted from parents to the children.  Parents were more successful in influencing children in their identification with a political party and less successful at transmitting views on particular political issues ( for adults in specific because teens and peers are more important, media and Watergate scandal…)  Parents have college educations or high socioeconomic status are more interested in political events, pay more attention to news, perform better on tests of civic knowledge and higher participation in politics.  School: Reinforce importance of political institutions, pride in country and values (liberty, equality, participation in govt.)  Much research links college education to liberal attitudes  Relationship was especially strong for students at high prestige institutions  Increased schooling also correlated with higher levels of voting and political participation  Generalizations less applicable today Some evidence to suggest college students are more conservative than they used to be Political participation among young is down Decline in reading of newspapers and newsmagazines  Formal education : - Curriculum : history versus contemporary course ) salute to the flag , annual celebration of the feast., study of Americans heroes such as Washington … - Civics curriculum did seem to change the orientations of black students in a number of dimensions, increase the feelings of loyalty to the system while decrease trust and participation. - Activities - Ritual and ceremony: - Elected student councils: install a sense of loyalty and increase activism and participation but sometimes it increase passivity by trying to minimize conflict. - Classroom teacher: - If students are activists, they are more likely to be blamed by teachers. - If teacher is reinforcing the views of parents , the students tend to be pushed toward homogeneity of views, and if they hold conflicting views, the students tend to adapt a middle point.  Classroom environment: - Debate and dialogue system (code of obedience) - They learn the rules of competition, cooperative behaviors and fairness or they may learn the opposite. Religion Religion can be powerful if it repeats stories, ceremonies, and rituals that tell its members about who they are and how they should see the world.  Religion: Socializes beliefs in societal topics, esp. treating the poor and people who suffer. Religious traditions affect families Catholic families somewhat more liberal Protestant families more conservative Secondary Socializing Agents Peers: tend to socialize with like peers, and within groups minority opinions are often silenced by majority ones. Leaders: Authority figures and those well respected can impact public opinion. Ex. The President (#1), News Media figures (Oprah Winfrey, Jon Stewart, Bill O’Riley) Media: influence indirectly, through images and themes. (ex. Exposure to crime on television makes people believe society is more dangerous than it is). Media Vast topic and extensive literature. Historically newspapers was the only medium for the transmission of news and political debates to people (local newspapers) Satellite and paid TV , CNN, FOX …biased news/ entertainment. With internet political information today is fragmented and politicized depending on the source. 3 functions 1- Supplying information about issues and candidates. 2- setting the agenda for public debate. 3- conveying a vast messages from the government, political figures and major interests to the public. 1- Supplying information about issues and candidates. Elite debates and covering the conflict/Ignoring minority and disadvantage groups which receive little or no news attention Sensation: putting entertainment first. 3 S In politics it means who is winning the horse race rather than on the policy positions and character of the candidates./ politainment Increasing polling for the media.  Infotainment Information overload Research shows that people interest in political news declined, they scan the news but remember only about half of the important stories of a year (issue personal relevance and human interest ) Setting the agenda The most important problem/issue facing the nation. Identify the important stories and debates to be covered. Treatment/ covering/ framing…of those issues may have an effect on public opinion. Media priming and preparing people to choose. In addition , media frame the issue in term of defining how responsibility is to be assigned for the problem and how to solve it. Conveying messages To influence public opinion. Manipulation of the news, propaganda techniques. Ex: Message by Franklin Roosevelt chats on radio to reassure the nation during the depression and the second world war. Control news reporting through spin doctors, conferences and negative ads.  Others like interest groups, foreign leaders, non profit groups and consumer advocates all try to get news coverage to influence public opinion. Selectivity process: they will reject or remember only a small part of the message (exposure/perception and memory) Little change their mind in response to the information in ads. Media KNOW THE TRUTH – why is it important? The influence of fake news on the general public opinion Unawarness of personal responsibility of sharing fake news Distraction from real problems Low level of media literacy  So, Media Are very effective at telling people what issues are important Can, at times, frame what it means for a politician to be successful Can sometimes also shape how people understand the meaning of the conflict Help people to make their mind and take decisions. Leaders and Public Opinion Despite limitations on Public Opinion, leaders do have room to maneuver Often leaders can take advantage of public misinformation/apathy to push their agendas Leaders can also use their positions to drive public opinion in the direction they desire Which of the following do you think has had the greatest influence on your political values? a) Family b) Social groups (racial, religious, national) c) Education d) Political conditions/experiences Quiz Think about the different agents of socialization. How have each influenced your political beliefs? Write a summary sentence explaining each agent and how it has influenced you personally.