Factors Influencing Political Socialization

Posted: December 21st, 2022

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Factors Influencing Political Socialization

The essay looks at the influencing factors determining one’s political socialization. It focuses on the impact of the family context as well as looks it other possible influencing factors. The paper reveals that a lot has changed since the article byGlass et al. was written, which have impacted how political socialization takes place. Also part of this report is how interacting with the course material has influenced my understanding of political socialization. Paying close attention to the matter under investigation will help to understand why individuals have certain thoughts, beliefs, and ideologies when it comes to political socialization.

Whether Glass Correctly Identify the Source of Collective Political Socialization

The primary argument in Glass et al. (1986) is that a child’s future political preference depend significantly on their parents’ political orientation. Hence, according to the researchers, a significant portion of Republicans were definitely brought up in Republican-supporting households and Democrats grew up in households supporting Democratic ideologies. In my opinion, I think that the authors correctly identify the chief source of people’s collective socialization. An aspect that convinces me that the paper adequately addresses the source is that the authors discuss how socialization theory impacts on people’s perception as they age. According to Glass et al. “traditional perceptions of socialization have regarded the family, particularly parents, as the main component of socialization during childhood” (685). The researchers argue that one of the roles of the family is deemed as the provision of continuity and stability to members. Families, Glass et al. argue, are thought to offer systematic socializations through which children learn the societal norms (685). The argument the findings of other scholars who have explored how the family impacts their children’s thoughts and actions. Based on the findings by Baferani what a child learns via the interactions between them and the parents is what they will cling to or emulate for the rest of their life in terms of how they relate to or treat others (418). Baferani further argues that though the socialization at the family level, the child will learn how to trust others, form friendship, and feel comfortable while in the presence of others (419). Thus, because Glass et al. provide a clear description of how the family impacts on a child, I am convinced that they correctly identify the origin of collective political socialization and inclination.

Glass et al. offer additional information to support their argument on the possible origin of collective political socialization. They contend that attitude sameness between generations, from this perspective, is the outcome of prosperous parental socialization of values and beliefs. They further inform that children learn the values, attitudes, and beliefs of their parents via both indirect observation and direct teaching, as a component of the guidance and information that children either passively embrace via social conditioning or actively as demonstrated in the Piagetian argument, in finding their position in life (Glass et al. 685). The researcher acknowledge that whereas theories on childhood socialization do not look into the matter of parent-child sameness in adulthood, the apparent view of traditional conceptualization is so prolonged, powerful, and important in psychodynamic aspects that the valued and attitudes built in the family extend well into adulthood (Glass et al. 686). Thus, Glass et al. argue, it might be anticipated that children and parents will continue to show attitude sameness throughout their life and entering into adulthood. However, the article informs, the similarity may diminish with time as the strength of child-parent contact depreciates (Glass et al. 686). An outstanding feature that adds value to the article is that the authors recognize the possible weaknesses associated with the socialization theory, an inclusion that offers a critical view of their argument on the original course of children thoughts and behaviors. They state that the traditional view to socialization has been contested by various scholars in recent times for not addressing two vital issues. The first is that the theory fails to explore how parent-child relationship could differ when examined from a macro-structural view. The second is that it does not give much information as to whether the similarity could be due to the influence children have on parents (Glass et al. 686). Nonetheless, the description the authors give is enough to show the origin of the similarities in political socialization between parents and their children.

Other Sources of Factors that Influence Political Preferences

Other than the influence parents have on their children in affiliating with a particular political outfit, other significant factors can substantially determine individual political socialization. Whereas it is widely accepted that political socialization commences on childhood, and that family is the most influential element in reinforcing particular behaviors, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes, other factors play similar functions, which makes it necessary to explore and understand them. The first is peer groups because it is here where an individual usually gets stimuli and influences that may conflict or coincide with early phases of political socialization. Equally important is the school considering that the purpose of school in defining political behavior has been widely embraced. As Memon et al. elaborate, the more broad a person’s education is, the more probable he is likely to be wary of the effects of effects of government, to be keen on political proceedings, to be more politically informed, to have extensive awareness of opinion regarding political matters, to indulge in political conversations with people having dissimilar ideas (134). Considered differently, someone may embrace a particular ideology if their school seems to be attached or affiliated to a specific group, or exists where the majority abide by specific practices and beliefs as demonstrated by a particular political group. Also influential in determining the political socialization of individuals is the political system. Based on the description by Memon et al. a political system refers to a set of formally and legally constituted government or state (134). A political system could be in the form of a totalitarian, authoritarian, monarch, or democratic regime. These factors are crucial as much as they are secondary to family influence.

Further analysis reveals other factors that are equally essential in the way they influence political socialization. The mass media plays fundamental functions in influencing the perception of individuals concerning the political ideologies and practices they should embrace. The Internet, press, TV, and radio among other platforms may instill different set of views and thoughts in a person and accordingly, determine their political socialization and orientations (Memon et al. 135). Media inform the public about the aspirations and desires of different politicians and political groups, which allow each person to make decisions based on what they see. For instance, a person may be affiliated to a particular political group because he or she hears on TV that it helps the needy and has a suitable and well-developed manifesto for the disabled. Also influential in determining an individual’s political socialization is socio-political institutions whereby in this category the impact of political groups, voluntary institutions, and religion come into play (Memon et al. 135). It is apparent that these groups influence a person’s political ideologies and conduct in many ways. Peer groups also serve equally essential functions in molding an individual’s political socialization. In peer groups, a person usually gets impacts that may instill or contradict with early phases of political socialization. Some people share similar ideologies with friends or workmates to be part of them, or because they do not have a stand of their own (Memon et al. 135). Based on the analysis, it is apparent that various factors other than family influence could determine one’s political socialization. Hence, researchers should pay considerable attention to these factors in an attempt to improve awareness on how the socialization happens.

If Political Socialization Today is Similar to Political Socialization in 1986

It is apparent that change is inevitable and what appeared or happened in a particular way many years ago has definitely taken a new form. To begin with, when a demographic composition of a society is altered, social change becomes inevitable. Typically, demographics and perceptions usually change when births go high or when life span is prolonged (Akujobi and Jack 492). Thus, whether anticipated or not, change is part of life, and can be triggered by forces within or from external influencers. Therefore, the practices and perceptions people had back then cannot be the same now, including how political socialization happens. With the emergence of modern technology and change in ideas, people are increasingly embracing different political ideologies that are not necessarily influenced by the family context. For instance, an individual or group of people are more likely to be attached to a particular political perception or ideology because of what they seen on traditional media platforms or digital media. Besides, education as already noted, also influences one’s thoughts and ideas, which make political socialization different from how it happened back then. Increased effects of globalization facilitate how people move from one place to the other, which provides an opportunity to embrace other people’s perceptions when it comes to political matters. Consequently, it is evident based on the description that how political socialization happened in 1986 when the article was composed has changed significantly because other factors have come into play. Therefore, researchers should pay considerable attention to how the change has happened and try to assess its impact on political socialization. Shedding more light onto this area will boost current studies on the matter, and will trigger the urge to understand the drivers behind the change. 

Impact of Course Material in Understanding Political Socialization

The course lectures and discussion posts have impacted significantly on my understanding of political socialization. Both forms have encouraged me to embrace a critical approach when exploring the topic of political socialization to acquire a broader view of the topic. For instance, I now understand that making reference to limited sources and restricting how I share ideas with others could strain how I gain detailed information on the topic. Therefore, I now see the importance of making inquiries from different sources as a way of expanding my knowledge on the subject. The course lectures have shown me that there is more to focus on when studying political socialization rather than paying much attention to specific areas while disregarding others. The discussion posts on the other hand, have reminded me the value of always working as a team to increase one’s chances of gaining new information that would be difficult to access if it were not for the support of others. As a result, I have developed the habit of paying close attention to lectures while noting down all points that I find important. This way, I am able to make needed references and make needed conclusion or inferences in real time. Besides, the discussion posts have developed the urge in me to pay attention to all posts without disregarding any form to be in a better position to gain valuable ideas and insight into everything that we learn. However, I know that I must make certain improvements to better how I gain from the lectures and discussion posts.  

Conclusion

The analysis explores various factors that determine political socialization. It pays considerable attention to how the family context plays critical functions in determining their children’s perception on various political issues. Glass et al. provides convincing argument regarding the impact of the family on the perception of their children. The authors examine how the socialization theory works, which helps to support their argument. The analysis also explores other factors that serve equally essential purposes in determining individual political socialization. It shows how factors such as peer groups, school, mass media, political system, and socio-political groups influence thoughts and attitudes that impact on political socialization. The essay draws some variations between how political socialization happened in 1986 when the article was being formed and now when many things have changed, and also elaborates how class lectures and discussion posts have influenced my thoughts and understanding of political socialization.

Works Cited

Akujobi, Theophilus and Jackson Jack. Social Change and Social Problems. In Abasiekong,

E.M, Sibiri, E.A, Ekpenyong, N.S (eds.) Major Themes in Sociology: An Introductory Text. pp 491-526. Mase Perfect Prints, 2017.

Baferani, Maryam. “The Role of the Family in the Socialization of Children.” Mediterranean

            Journal of Social Sciences, vol. 6, no. 6, 2015, pp. 417-423.

Glass, Jennifer, Vern Bengtson and Charlotte Chorn Dunham. “Attitude Similarity in Three-

Generation Families: Socialization, Status Inheritance, or Reciprocal Influence?” American Sociological Review, vol. 51, no. 5, 1986, pp. 685-698.  

Memon, Sumera, Mohd Ishak and Norsiah Hamid. “The Influence of Political Socialization

Agents on Political Participation of Pakistani Youths.” Jurnal IImiah LISKI, vol. 3, no. 2, 2017, pp. 130-149.