Political Socialization
In the first part of the paper try to identify and discuss your core political beliefs. You may already have a good idea of where you stand politically. There are also internet sites designed to help you place yourself ideologically. Some use a simple scale of liberal to conservative. Others are more complex.
The first site is IDEALOG. This site is part of the web page for a textbook on American Government written by Janda, Berry and Goldman. On this site, you can take a self-test by answering a series of questions designed to help you identify your ideological perspective. You will have to read the introduction and tutorial before you complete the self-test. After completing the questions, the program will also tell you the ideological placement of the average person who has taken the survey on-line, as well as the American public.
Next, try this Political Party Quiz from Pew Research Center designed to show you how your views fit with the political parties and the American public.
Try these quizzes after you have thought about your political views. Report the results.
Were they what you expected?
Were the results of the quizzes similar?
Do you agree with them? Why or why not?
Do you think such quizzes are useful tools?
Which one(s) do you think had the best design? Why?
Why do you think you are the political person you are?
In the second part of the paper, you will apply the general concepts of political socialization to your own life. Assess your own experiences with politics and compare them with the theoretical material in the readings.
Where do you think your core beliefs about politics come from?
Do the theories of political socialization discussed in the class notes or in the text seem to apply to you?
Consider for example:
What is your earliest political memory?
Do you share your parents’ political opinions in whole or in part?
What other influences were important in your own political socialization (school, friends, significant events, etc.)?
How did any of these influences shape your development?
If you’re already thinking that there are few or no issues that you care about, think about that as well. How would you explain why this is the case?