Chapter 6-
Public Opinion Learning
Objectives:
(1). Define public
opinion, explain its role, & describe how it shapes political
process.
(2). Examine political
knowledge, and its distribution and sources.
(3). Examine issue politics, and the
people who possess political knowledge.
(4). Define political socialization,
and state how political values & beliefs are formed.
(5). Define ideology and explain how
it influences public opinion.
(6). Compare and contrast the main ideas
behind modern liberalism and conservatism.
(7). Outline how ideology has
changed over time and examine its roots & sources.
(8). Examine contradictions in the public’s
opinion on major economic and social issues.
(9). Contrast abstract symbols with concrete
policies.
(10). Examine how the public maintains its opinions, changes them over
time, and why.
Ø The People’s Limited Knowledge of Politics:
§ American Opinions vs. informed opinion => Table 6-1
§ 6-1a
The Distribution of Knowledge:
· Basis of political knowledge –
learning about politics
¨
¨ Capacity
¨ Interests
· Important traits closely related:
¨ Demographic Characteristics
Ø Socioeconomic status
§ Education
§ Occupation
§ Income
¨ Social Characteristics (activities & clubs)
¨ Psychological Characteristics
Ø Political efficacy
Ø Interest & Active participation in politics
§
6-1b Sources of Knowledge:
· School (background information on
basics)
· News media (current issues)
¨ TV vs. Newspapers => decline in knowledge
Ø Entertainment & interest vs.
content & depth
§
6-1c People with Knowledge:
· Attentive or Issue Publics vs. general
public
¨ Role & influence on elected
officials
¨ Favorable Demographic Characteristics
Ø
The Nature and
Acquisition of Opinions and Values:
§ The socialization process
& its impact
· Shaping & learning attitudes
& values
§
6-2a Family
and Friends:
· Major impact => learning value
judgments
· Parents => Party labels & basic political
attitudes
§
· patriotism & basic democratic
values & $$$
· civic classes => promote support
for political system
·
§
6-2c The Media => especially television
programs:
· Influence impressions of acceptable
social behavior
§
6-2d Lifetime Learning:
·
Socialization continues=>
party
ID stable w/exceptions
Ø Ideologies:
§ Elaborate set of inter-relative
beliefs w/abstract principles
· Provides coherent philosophies about
politics
§ Focus conflict on agreement & disagreement about
issues
§ Two major ideologies in American
politics:
· Liberalism &
Conservatism
· Agreement: basic principles of democracy & capitalism
¨ Democracy & equality vs. capitalism &
freedom
¨ Liberals & equality vs. Conservatives &
freedom
· Disagreement over the emphasis & balance of above
¨ Conflict over what government’s role
should be
§ 6-3a
Liberalism (late 19th century => today):
· (Contrast with classic liberalism of 18th
century)
· Equality of outcomes => major
government role =>
¨ political & economic equality (Affirmative
Action)
· Less military force & more
humanitarian/$$$ aid
· Government role in social issues? (see Text page 198)
§ 6-3b
Conservatism:
· Minimum Government role in political & $$$
policies
· Strong National Defense & cuts in
foreign aid
· Government role in social issues? (see Text)
§
6-3c Ideologies may change over Time:
·
Adjustments in
response to changes in society itself =>
¨ Industrialization=> urbanization
¨ technological development
¨ Immigration
& population growth
¨ Economic & social trends & changes
·
Examples:
¨ Social impact of Industrial Revolution
=> reforms
¨ Great Depression => role of Fed Government grows
¨ Civil Rights movement
& LBJ’s Great Society
¨
Ø Patriot
Act (pros vs. cons)
§
6-3d Sources of Ideologies:
·
Two general sources:
¨ Abstract ideas
about individuals & Gov in society
¨ Impact of above on real people helped
or harmed
·
Examples:
¨
Conservative
support for
Ø Reversal of position during summer
black-outs
¨ Liberal penchant
to cut defense budget => unless?
· Influence of racial, ethnic & religious groups
·
Social &
political movements:
¨ Temperance movement of early 1900s =>
Ø Yankee Protestant => anti-immigrant
laws
¨ Women’s movement => Title IX & Liberal
causes
§
6-3e The Process of Molding Ideologies:
· Political ideological opinion leaders
¨ (Kennedy
& Jackson vs. Helms &
Buchanan)
· Media & Classroom
forums => discussion & debate
· “Informed” public => influence
friends & neighbors
Ø
Public Opinion
on the Issues
§ Clear patterns emerge as clusters of related issues
§ 6-4a
Ideological Thinking by the Public
· Consistent vs. inconsistent attitudes & opinions
· Conservative, liberal, & moderate
· Tendency toward mix of ideologies –
why?
¨ Weak grasp of facts & oversimplified
understanding
§ 6-4b
Abstract Symbols vs. Concrete Policies
· Public is ideologically conservative on abstract ideas
¨ (see Public’s self identification – Figure 6-1)
· But Public is Liberal
on concrete government programs
· Example: Public
insists on conservative fiscal
policy:
¨ Balanced budget & cut government
$$$ & waste
· Also:
protect environment & fund education programs
¨ But don’t raise taxes or cut my programs (Fig 6-2)
· Basic contradictions => easily exploited by
politicians
§ 6-4c
Public Opinion on Clusters of
Related Issues
· Despite contradictions => clear
patterns do emerge
· Center around clusters that distinguish
between:
¨ Economic vs. Social issues
· Economic Issues: (distribution of wealth in society)
¨ Generally => groups support $$$
issues that benefit
¨ Wealthy want less taxes vs. poor want
gov programs
¨ Conservatives generally
support lower taxes
¨ Liberals want Federal programs (need higher taxes)
¨ Above not always so => exceptions
Ø (Ted Kennedy is rich but supports
higher taxes)
¨ Other typical group differences (see Table 6-2)
· Social Issues:
(moral & value judgments)
¨ Generally => higher educated =>
more liberal
Ø Support tolerance &
anti-discrimination laws
Ø Individual Freedom over traditional values
¨ Poorly educated => more
conservative
Ø Less tolerant of different groups’
values
Ø Protect traditional
values over indiv. freedom
¨ Typical group differences (Tables 6-3, 6-4,& 6-5)
§ 6-4d
Change in Opinion over Time:
· Young usually lead way to
generational changes
¨ Young also typically more liberal on
social issues
· Americans became more tolerant over
time (Fig. 6-3)
· Public Opinion mixed on economic issues:
¨ Social Security
& other Federal programs supported
¨ Recent conservative trend to reduce Fed programs
Ø (Review Figure 6-2)
§
6-4e Cause of Change:
· Changes traced to social & economic pressures
¨ Women’s equality => WWII contribution
Ø Many women continued jobs following
war
Ø Growing demand for equality
· Leadership of major movements for
change
¨ MLK & Civil Rights movement => integration
· Change is more evolutionary than revolutionary
¨ Civil Rights Act of 1964
¨ Voting Rights Act of 1965
¨ Both pressed for change => reality
was slower
Ø Racial prejudices changed slowly (Figure 6-3)
· Public Opinion generally remains
fairly stable
¨ Change occurs slowly (unless dramatic
event - 9/11)
v Chapter 6 KEY TERMS:
Ø
Attentive publics (or issue publics): People who follow a particular issue closely, are
well informed about it, and have strong opinions on it.
Ø
Attitude consistency: The degree to which a person’s political opinions all
fall at about the same point on the liberal-conservative dimension.
Ø
Attitudes (or Opinions): Preferences on specific issues.
Ø
Conservatism:
The political philosophy that government should play a minimal role in society
(except in the area of traditional moral values) with the goal of ensuring all
its citizens economic freedom.
Ø
Economic issues: Issues relating to the distribution of income and wealth in society.
Ø
Ideology: An
elaborate set of interrelated beliefs with overarching, abstract principles
that make people’s political philosophies coherent.
Ø
Issue publics (or attentive publics): People who follow a particular issue closely, are
well informed about it, and have strong opinions on it.
Ø
Left: The
liberal end of the political spectrum.
Ø
Liberalism:
The political philosophy that government should play an expansive role in
society (except in the area of personal morality) with the goal of protecting
its weaker citizens and ensuring political and social equality for all
citizens.
Ø
Opinions (or Attitudes): Preferences on specific issues.
Ø
Pro-choice:
Favoring the policy of allowing women to choose whether to have an abortion.
Ø Pro-life:
Favoring the policy of making abortion illegal.
Ø Right: The
conservative end of the political spectrum.
Ø Social issues:
Issues based on moral or value judgments.
Ø
Socialization:
The process by which people acquire values
and opinions from their societies.
Ø
Socioeconomic status: Social status as measured by one’s education, income,
and occupation.
Ø
Values:
Basic principles which lead people to form opinions on specific issues.