Unit 7 - Public Opinion & Participation For this discussion board, you’ll be diving into your own “political story” to understand where your political ideas and political opinions have come from....

The three primary agents of socialization are family, school, and church. Political socialization is defined as the learning process by which people acquire their political opinions, beliefs, and values. These agents have a large influence on individuals political views. Personally, I would agree that my family holds a large contribution towards my outlook on the political parties. My parents have strong governmental perspectives.They express their judgements freely throughout our household. Growing up, I gradually started to favor a certain political side over the other because it seemed logical and other members of my family shared similar thoughts. Schools also have a heavy influence on individuals political beliefs. At a young age we are taught to acknowledge important leaders such as Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Learning about our nation's more pronounced moments, history in wars, and hardships support us with political and cultural ethics. School has affected my political socialization by giving me insight on past political leaders and their actions taken to provide safety for the U.S. It has also expanded upon my knowledge of current politics. Church and religious beliefs are another key factor in correlation to politics. Many of the values that individuals practice and worship can also be shared with the values that presidents or governmental officers preach. This affects my personal political socialization because I often look up to influencers that address ideas with similar faiths that I have incorporated into my daily life. Church, school, and family are the origins to political socialization, as they are acquired through learning processes and are influenced by childhood experiences.

The secondary agents of socialization are media, peers, leaders, and events. My parents often watch news channels that agree with their opinions on politics. Due to this reason, I often hear the media discussing politics that support the party my parents agree with. The mass media tends to over exaggerate and portray certain events differently then they appear in reality. It is a powerful socialization agent, as it is where Americans receive most of their information on current events. Peers can impact people's decisions and alter their opinions. Many individuals are more likely to discuss with groups that share similar political views. Being in highschool, my friends and classmates may try to challenge my political opinions by asking questions and attempting to persuade otherwise. The decisions and enforcements that the president makes have strong effects on citizens. How the president responds and handles difficult issues will be reflected by the citizens. An example of this is how President Donald Trump responded to Iran shooting down a U.S. drone. Political leaders’ ability to alter the public belief also depends on their position. The president, holding the highest authority on the population has to consider what is best for the men and women that represent this great nation. Recently, President Donald Trump visited North Korea. Americans of different political outlooks handled this act differently. Some saw it as a way to ensure peace between nations, while others argued that the president should not be negotiating with the enemy. Considering the impact of major events helps Americans determine the next steps. They also change the opinions of multiple people. Events that have held long-term influences on Americans viewpoints are the Great Depression, World War 11, terrorist attacks on the twin towers, and the Vietnam War. The aftermath of the 9/11 attacks changed the way airlines operate in America. Airport security has become stricter with the implementation of various requirements.

I do believe that I am an agent of political socialization for my little sister whom is in the sixth grade. Through the primary agent of family and the secondary agent of peers she could acquire her political opinions, values, and beliefs.