In a generation where diversity flows like water, people are subject to their own opinions more than ever. Every day, people are more and more susceptible to political influences from friends, family, the media, etc., and political socialization starts way before it is realized. Political socialization is defined by the Pearson 2009 National Addition Government by the People as “the process by which we develop our political attitudes, values, and beliefs.” A person’s political socialization begins as soon as they are able to form conscious thought, thus molding what will become of that person’s future political identity.
“The factors that influenced [my political beliefs] definitely came mostly from my dad and the people he worked with and just the places I grew up in,” senior Nikolai Mather said, “My dad is very conservative, but he has friends who identify as everything from editors of the national review to anarchist punks.”
Mather identifies with liberal or left- leaning views, while also being someone who has learned the art of compromise, and is therefore open to bridging party lines.
Along with Mathers, other students have been influenced by their parent’s political ideologies. In a recent poll conducted by The Omniscient, out of 227 students polled, 67 percent of students shared political affiliation with at least one parent, 17 percent did not share political affiliation with either parent, and 16 percent of students were either unsure of their personal or their parent’s political affiliation. In a national poll taken by Gallop.com of teenagers aged 12-17, 7 percent of those polled claimed to be “more conservative” than their parents, 21 percent claimed to be “more liberal” than their parents, and 71 percent claimed to be “about the same” level of liberal or conservativeness as their parents.
“I think that my parents were obviously a pretty influential part of [my beliefs],” an anonymous student said. “And I think that as I’ve grown up a little bit and have looked more at the world around me, media has influenced me in the different opinions I see.”
Through surveys and polls, it has been determined that a majority of children and teens follow after their parent’s political views. While that is the larger consensus, political socialization includes many other elements that others will accredit more influence to.
“[My parents] have not particularly [influenced my political views],” sophomore Sam Earnshaw said. “I think they are more libertarian, so they won’t do much in the way of voting for either candidate this election. I’m a conservative and I base what I believe off of what I watch on the news and just think that certain things people believe are not necessarily right.”
In a Twitter poll conducted by The Omniscient, 68 percent of those polled claimed that their peers and family had a stronger influence than media on their political ideologies while 32 percent claimed the opposite. Influence from public figures and mass media is also becoming more notable, significantly in this generation.
While there are links between families and their offspring’s political affiliation, other major influences include and are not limited to mass media, location and religion. Media bias plays an important role in how things in the news and on social media are perceived. For example, people are typically loyal to news outlets whose stories are consistent with their political affiliation, with outlets like Fox News, being known for drawing in more conservative viewers, and sources like National Public Radio (NPR), drawing in more liberal listeners.
In the 21st century, social media is now a prevalent element in people’s lives, and provides insight and opinions on an array of topics, including politics.
“You only see one side when you’re watching [the news] and when you go onto social media sites you can see every single person’s [opinion],” junior Mallory Storrie said. “It’s not just the general belief or general view…. I feel like [social media] can really affect you because you wouldn’t necessarily think about all of those things on your own.”
In an age of developing technology, people have more sources of information available at their fingertips than ever before.
“The good news is that with all the information available to us, anyone, anywhere can use technology and its conveniences to read many different points of view,” Jude Treder-Wolff, a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist said to The South End. “[You can] fact-check and have discussions with others who share diverse perspectives.”
– By Riley Wolfgang
