Government and politics concepts · AP U.S. Government and Politics, AP U.S. History
Political socialization
Political socialization: The process by which people form their political beliefs and values, influenced by family, school, peers, media and events.
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What it means
Family is often the earliest and strongest influence, but schools, religious institutions, peers, the media and major events also shape political attitudes. Generational effects describe how events experienced in youth can shape a cohort's views.
Socialization helps explain why people with similar backgrounds tend to share political views.
Example
People who came of age during an economic crisis may hold lasting views about the government's role in the economy.
On the exam
Political socialization is a Unit 4 concept and appears in questions about public opinion and ideology.