process of political socialization. Political socialization is a process that allows the next generation to acquire their society’s orientation toward political issues. Families are the earliest and most powerful influence on a child’s political views. Schools are almost as influential as the family, and the child’s peer group can also provide a lasting effect on political opinion. In recent decades, media have proven to powerfully influence the socialization process in both direct political ways, and in more subtle indirect ways. An individual’s social class and occupation may provide strong signals about political party membership, as will race and religion. Additionally, the area that an individual lives in and the political events that a person experiences (or that simply occur during that person’s lifetime) can strongly influence opinions.
In your essay, please be sure to:
•Discuss the process of political socialization..
•Relate political socialization to the stability of public opinion..
•Answer the following: ◦What role do you think the Internet will play in political socialization?.
◦In what way do you think the Internet will influence stability of public opinion?.
◦Consider why you hold the political beliefs that you do and who or what influenced you the most..
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•Describe your earliest political socialization experience and explain how this experience influenced your political attitudes and opinions on issues that are important to you.