American Democracy Now, 2nd Edition (Harrison)

Chapter 6: Political Socialization and Public Opinion

Chapter Summary

This chapter focuses on political socialization and public opinion. The challenge of attracting and maintaining young voter interest in elections and government activities creates a good beginning for the discussion of the ways in which political socialization occurs, including various agents of socialization and the techniques for measuring public opinion. This discussion includes the following:

• The process of becoming politically engaged through political socialization
• The different agents of socialization—family, the media, schools, churches, peers, community and political leaders, and demographic characteristics
• Ways to measure public opinion
• Americans' ideas about politics