Process in which one acquires his/her political beliefs.

Process in which one acquires his/her political beliefs.

• A. Political socialization
• B. Political ideology
• C. Civic education
• D. Political participation

Answer: (A)

Political socialization is the lifelong process by which people come to hold and understand political beliefs. From early family influence, schooling that teaches how government works, conversations with friends, media exposure, and the values promoted by religious and civic groups, individuals absorb norms about politics, civic duties, and how they think politics should function. Major events and experiences can shift those beliefs over time, too. This explains why people’s opinions often reflect their social environment and experiences, rather than being fixed or chosen in isolation. This differs from an ideology, which is a coherent system of beliefs someone adopts; from civic education, which is a specific form of schooling aimed at preparing citizens; and from political participation, which is about taking actions like voting rather than how beliefs are formed.

Political socialization is the lifelong process by which people come to hold and understand political beliefs. From early family influence, schooling that teaches how government works, conversations with friends, media exposure, and the values promoted by religious and civic groups, individuals absorb norms about politics, civic duties, and how they think politics should function. Major events and experiences can shift those beliefs over time, too. This explains why people’s opinions often reflect their social environment and experiences, rather than being fixed or chosen in isolation.

This differs from an ideology, which is a coherent system of beliefs someone adopts; from civic education, which is a specific form of schooling aimed at preparing citizens; and from political participation, which is about taking actions like voting rather than how beliefs are formed.