Chapter 6: Public Opinion, Political Socialization, and the Media

Public Opinion

• The aggregate of individual attitudes or beliefs shared by some portion of the population.

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Consensus

• General agreement among the citizenry on an issue.

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Divided Opinion

• Public opinion that is polarized between two different positions.

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Political Socialization

• The process by which people acquire political beliefs and values.

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Peer Groups

• A group consisting of members who share common social characteristics. Such groups play in an important part in the socialization process, helping to shape attitudes and beliefs.

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Opinion Leader

• One who is able to influence the opinions of others because of position, expertise, or personality.

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Media

• The channels of mass communication.

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Agenda Setting

• Determining which public policy questions will be debated or considered.

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Generational Effect

• A long lasting effect of the events of a particular time on the political opinions of those who came of political age at that time.

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Gender Gap

• The difference between the percentage of woman who vote for a particular candidate and the percentage of men who vote for the candidate.

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