Personal Political Profile
Political Socialization
To begin, I would describe my political socialization process as that I get my attitudes and beliefs about politics from my culture, religion, and family history, whereas someone else my get their political socialization from their beliefs. The agents of socialization that would impact how I see politics would be my family, my peers and mass media. My agents of socialization are the same as the general common agents of socialization; they impact political socialization because they all affect how people gain understanding on politics, so that people can identify with a political party. However, these agents may be different because others may include that race, gender, and age also affects
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I believed my party identification of being a Democratic was formed by the influence of my family. Since all of my family is Democratic I have grown up believing in certain Democratic characteristic such as being liberal, equal rights for men and woman, especially when it deals with wages and education, also in pro-choice. I believe my party identification is strong, however since I’m older I think I base my identity on what political candidate or politician has the values that are aligned for my best interests; meaning they are subject to change now that I understand politics more. Based off the results from the poll I would be ninety-five percent likely to side with Bernie Sanders as the next Democratic nominee for president. I’m consider a left-wing Social Libertarian/Authoritarian who supports legislated equality, personal freedom, and protection of other people. From the polling data I’m fifty percent collectivism compared to the public, I believe policy should protect and support the best interest of all citizens while on the other hand, I’m seventy-eight percent big government compared to the public, symbolizing I believe the government should address inequality and corruption in the …show more content…
Compared to the public I’m a part of the fifteen percent of solid liberals considered in society who always vote Democrat and in the last two presidential elections would have voted for Obama, if I was able to vote. In contrast with the public as a solid liberal, I’m ninety-three percent more likely to support immigration as a positive aspect that will strengthen the country, than the twenty-seven percent of people who believe the growing number of immigrants will actually hinder the growth of America. However, in foreign policy and privacy I have equally supported views with the public in consideration that, Americans shouldn’t have to give up privacy and freedom in order to be safe from terrorism. My political ideology is consistent with my party identification as a Democrat, because eighty-nine percent of solid liberals are Democrats, I’m an activist for progressive change that helps the nation succeed as well as I believe that the rights of people should always be protected such as free speech or pro-choice. Overall, I received the ideology results I thought I would, because I believe the government shouldn’t intervene in the economy and create more social programs that increase the welfare of the
When it comes to my political beliefs, I am indecisive between being a Republican or a Democrat. The reason for this, is because I never really showed enough interest into learning more about politics. As for my politically ideology, I feel that I am more liberal than I am conservative. In theory, ideology is defined in two ways, “(1) Organized set of political attitudes based on underlying principles”, and “(2) a cohesive set of beliefs that form a general philosophy about the role of government” (McAtee). An Individual’s political ideology can be formed from public opinions and agents of socializations (McAtee). According to the quiz I took on “Politopia.com”, the results showed that I was “Centerville”, which means that I am in between of being a Democrat or a Republican, or that I support both sides and yet oppose to both sides.
Millions of citizens around the United States, at some point in their lifetime, obtain a political ideology. Typically, their political values are influenced by their parents. Political scientists have identified that around age eleven, children begin to develop political opinion. According to Wilson’s, American Government: Institutions and Policies, 91% of a high school senior class indentified with the same party as their parents (American Government 158). I can attest to this since I in fact have the same party association as my parents. Ever since I was young, I categorized myself as a Democrat due to the fact that my elders were. However, as I have matured I am able to recognize the beliefs and ideologies that followers of certain parties possess. Since I have been more exposed to the political arena I am able analyze the issues more critically and hence I continuously question whether I should classify myself as a Democrat or Republican.
.... Out of all the political parties, the Republican Party was least of all that I identified with. I agree most with the ideologies of the Democratic and Libertarian parties. I think that these parties interest is most targeted to use government as an instrument for the people, rather then working against it, as well as uniting people rather then alienating and discriminating.
From their earliest formation, political parties have been a controversial aspect that have both strengthened and weakened the United States. It has a massive effect on voters, congress, and policymaking in the government. Party polarization is the prominent division that exists between parties, most noticeably Democrats and Republicans, because of the extreme differences of the ideological beliefs of the opposing parties. In the past, many individuals considered themselves “mixed” and did not associate themselves with just one side. According to www.pewresearch.org, “the share of Americans who express consistently conservative or consistently liberal opinions has doubled over the past two decades”. Every year less and less people consider
Party identification is the political party that an individual categorizes them self with. Political parties came about as a way to organize citizens with similar beliefs and attitudes. These parties then attempt to influence the government by electing members into office. Today there are two main parties people can identify: Republican and Democrat. There is also a third choice, being an Independent, but for the purpose of this paper this group will not be recognized as a political party. These reasons will be discussed later. There are many different theories as to why people do or do not identify with a political party, including social psychology, issue related, and psychological attachments. I believe the social psychology theory has the right idea. Sociology is about studying human society and how it develops and functions. So, it makes sense that social factors would have a big impact on whether we identify with a political party or not.
The views of my parents were the first experiences that I had relating to politics, and they helped shape the political opinions and beliefs that I hold today. In this paper, I will be discussing the political party I identify with, as well as which interest groups have influenced my life and beliefs the most. I will also discuss specific policies that I support, and what we as Americans can and cannot do because of the laws passed by the political party that I support. I will also touch on my personal level of interest and involvement in my political party.
Democrat or a Republican is a complicated question almost like decidIng on a religion, which beliefs do they feel strongly about, what do you feel strongly about? How was their ideology similar to yours? These questions are what every American has to answer. But a surprising number of them find themselves just like me in the center. Through the three surveys, it appears I am juxtapositioned in the center. In other words I am a moderate, and that doesn't surprise me because I support some views the democrats have, such as gun control restrictions, but yet on the other hand I support the republicans view of pro, life unlike our fellow democrats. I have found that these surveys seem to match up with my ideology. The political typology quiz aligned me in the hard pressed skeptic. I am not surprised at this outcome because it seems to match my ideology, and political beliefs.
Such factors are their educational background, socioeconomic status, gender and other demographics. There will be a definite difference between a person who has an excellent academic background and a person who does not have such qualification. In the same way, socioeconomic status of a person also decides how well a person engages politically (Riedel and Sullivan, 2001). For instance, an individual who comes from a very lower class will not pay heed to political system of the country because his basic concern is to feed his children and family. His priorities will be different from a person who has all basic necessities. In the same way a middle aged person who has an adequate knowledge and experience regarding the political system of a country and a young person who is just an amateur will have significant differences of political attitudes and political efficacy. So attitudes and experiences also affect the political efficacy and ultimately the voting behaviors of the individuals (Sheerin and Celia Anne, 2007). Mass Media is one of the tools to build these attitudes and political
My socialization started from before my birth. My parents knew that I would be born female and, therefore, bought me pink clothes and other “girl” items. I was born into a lower-middle-class family with both of my parents working a factory job. I spent a lot of my infancy with my grandmother who would watch me when my parents worked. When my parents came home, they would shower me with affection and nurture my needs the best that they could. I would be fed, bathed, and everything that is needed to keep a baby clean and happy. My parents would make sure that I was cared for.
Few people know their own political beliefs. Although this sounds strange I truly believe it, considering the varying political opinions that are constantly being thrown at us from the television, the news, the radio, magazines, our families, and even the president. So much influence makes it hard to maintain personal political views; your own opinion can easily be swayed. The media often presents information on current issues that may cause someone to stray from their original, authentic position. In order to reestablish a personal opinion, everything else must be set aside, and all outside influences disregarded. Having done this, and having taken several political quizzes, I was surprised to find myself, according to the political quizzes, considered a centrist- a moderate or middle grounder. Prior to exploring my own political views I considered myself a conservative. Having been influenced by the media and especially by my family I thought of myself as a true conservative in every way. Until recently, I never even bothered to have my own political views; what I heard from family members I accepted as true and learned what I could from the media. Although I still passionately support the Republican Party on many issues, I discovered that with all other influences set aside, I have more moderate, and surprisingly several liberal opinions than I ever would have acknowledged.
Television has influenced my political ideology. Television has convinced me, when it comes to political ideologies, that there is only two viable choices: conservative, or liberal. I have developed an “Us vs. Them” mentality, when I watch the news. I find the words conservative and Republican synonymous with each other, as well as democrat and liberal. I often catch myself siding with Democrats for no other reason than that I am anti-Republican. I watch a lot of The Daily Show. The Daily Show spends a great deal of its air time discrediting the reasons behind conservative beliefs, which only helps legitimize my anti-conservative and pro-liberal views.
My political identity results determine that I was a disaffected democrat that believed the economic system is unfair due to favors of powerful interests. Which is true because as a young black female it is tough for Americans to have the financial stability to survive especially for black Americans. One of my results about the government performance was 63 percent with the belief that they lacked maintenance for people that are in need. The primary example will be Hurricane Harvey that has caused historic flooding. The flooding of the Hurricane impacted an increase in jobs and a place to live for people moving from Houston to Atlanta. Although the government lack maintenance and decision making for programs, that can maybe change in the
Everyone in America works to make a living, well, almost everyone. Beneficial to many, though hated by more, welfare has become a central argument in American Politics. Welfare is not an old program in the United States. However, in the last quarter of a century there has been some excess controversy over the Welfare Budget.
Political socialization as defined by the University of Texas at Austin is “the process by which individuals acquire beliefs, values, and habits of thought and action related to government, politics, and society” (3.1). Individuals are taught the dominant values of their societies by religion, parents, teachers, pastors, siblings, churches, friends, and many others. One then obtains the feeling of self-evidence of these truths based on the plights of those who are closest to them imploring them of these truths almost from birth. Perhaps a couple of the most popular or effective agents of socialization are religion and higher education. Although most are not aware this process of socialization is taking place, we inevitably form our opinions and truths of political beliefs based on those in closest proximity to us as children.
Politics is one of the most debated topics in the country today. With the wide variety of values present in America, it is bound to be a difficult topic to discuss. I’ve grown up in a family of democrats with religiously republican grandparents. Considering myself an Independent leaning democratic, I can usually calmly talk politics with my family. This year’s election has made any conversation surrounding politics toxic to my family and creates a large argument of one side or the other and no in between.