<< Chapter < Page Chapter >> Page >

Learning objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

  • Define public opinion and political socialization
  • Explain the process and role of political socialization in the U.S. political system
  • Compare the ways in which citizens learn political information
  • Explain how beliefs and ideology affect the formation of public opinion

The collection of public opinion through polling and interviews is a part of American political culture. Politicians want to know what the public thinks. Campaign managers want to know how citizens will vote. Media members seek to write stories about what Americans want. Every day, polls take the pulse of the people and report the results. And yet we have to wonder: Why do we care what people think?

What is public opinion?

Public opinion is a collection of popular views about something, perhaps a person, a local or national event, or a new idea. For example, each day, a number of polling companies call Americans at random to ask whether they approve or disapprove of the way the president is guiding the economy.

Gallup. 2015. “Gallup Daily: Obama Job Approval.” Gallup . June 6, 2015. http://www.gallup.com/poll/113980/Gallup-Daily-Obama-Job-Approval.aspx (February 17, 2016); Rasmussen Reports. 2015. “Daily Presidential Tracking Poll.” Rasmussen Reports June 6, 2015. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/obama_administration/daily_presidential_tracking_poll (February 17, 2016); Roper Center. 2015. “Obama Presidential Approval.” Roper Center . June 6, 2015. http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/polls/presidential-approval/ (February 17, 2016).
When situations arise internationally, polling companies survey whether citizens support U.S. intervention in places like Syria or Ukraine. These individual opinions are collected together to be analyzed and interpreted for politicians and the media. The analysis examines how the public feels or thinks, so politicians can use the information to make decisions about their future legislative votes, campaign messages, or propaganda.

But where do people’s opinions come from? Most citizens base their political opinions on their beliefs

V. O. Key, Jr. 1966. The Responsible Electorate . Harvard University: Belknap Press.
and their attitudes, both of which begin to form in childhood. Beliefs are closely held ideas that support our values and expectations about life and politics. For example, the idea that we are all entitled to equality, liberty, freedom, and privacy is a belief most people in the United States share. We may acquire this belief by growing up in the United States or by having come from a country that did not afford these valued principles to its citizens.

Our attitudes are also affected by our personal beliefs and represent the preferences we form based on our life experiences and values. A person who has suffered racism or bigotry may have a skeptical attitude toward the actions of authority figures, for example.

Over time, our beliefs and our attitudes about people, events, and ideas will become a set of norms, or accepted ideas, about what we may feel should happen in our society or what is right for the government to do in a situation. In this way, attitudes and beliefs form the foundation for opinions.

Questions & Answers

how to create a software using Android phone
Wiseman Reply
how
basra
what is the difference between C and C++.
Yan Reply
what is software
Sami Reply
software is a instructions like programs
Shambhu
what is the difference between C and C++.
Yan
yes, how?
Hayder
what is software engineering
Ahmad
software engineering is a the branch of computer science deals with the design,development, testing and maintenance of software applications.
Hayder
who is best bw software engineering and cyber security
Ahmad
Both software engineering and cybersecurity offer exciting career prospects, but your choice ultimately depends on your interests and skills. If you enjoy problem-solving, programming, and designing software syste
Hayder
what's software processes
Ntege Reply
I haven't started reading yet. by device (hardware) or for improving design Lol? Here. Requirement, Design, Implementation, Verification, Maintenance.
Vernon
I can give you a more valid answer by 5:00 By the way gm.
Vernon
it is all about designing,developing, testing, implementing and maintaining of software systems.
Ehenew
hello assalamualaikum
Sami
My name M Sami I m 2nd year student
Sami
what is the specific IDE for flutter programs?
Mwami Reply
jegudgdtgd my Name my Name is M and I have been talking about iey my papa john's university of washington post I tagged I will be in
Mwaqas Reply
yes
usman
how disign photo
atul Reply
hlo
Navya
hi
Michael
yes
Subhan
Show the necessary steps with description in resource monitoring process (CPU,memory,disk and network)
samuel Reply
What is software engineering
Tafadzwa Reply
Software engineering is a branch of computer science directed to writing programs to develop Softwares that can drive or enable the functionality of some hardwares like phone , automobile and others
kelvin
if any requirement engineer is gathering requirements from client and after getting he/she Analyze them this process is called
Alqa Reply
The following text is encoded in base 64. Ik5ldmVyIHRydXN0IGEgY29tcHV0ZXIgeW91IGNhbid0IHRocm93IG91dCBhIHdpbmRvdyIgLSBTdGV2ZSBXb3puaWFr Decode it, and paste the decoded text here
Julian Reply
what to do you mean
Vincent
hello
ALI
how are you ?
ALI
What is the command to list the contents of a directory in Unix and Unix-like operating systems
George Reply
how can i make my own software free of cost
Faizan Reply
like how
usman
hi
Hayder
The name of the author of our software engineering book is Ian Sommerville.
Doha Reply
what is software
Sampson Reply
the set of intruction given to the computer to perform a task
Noor
Got questions? Join the online conversation and get instant answers!
Jobilize.com Reply

Get Jobilize Job Search Mobile App in your pocket Now!

Get it on Google Play Download on the App Store Now




Source:  OpenStax, American government. OpenStax CNX. Dec 05, 2016 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11995/1.15
Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

Notification Switch

Would you like to follow the 'American government' conversation and receive update notifications?

Ask