Politics: The Basics, 4th Edition

attitudes. It is also probable that influences in early adulthood, when
habits of voting or other forms of political participation are estab-
lished, can be crucially important: this would include influences from
workmates or comrades-in-arms and key political events at this
time. In short, people tend to absorb the political values and ideas of
the key face-to-face social groups to which they belong (see Tables
5.1(a) and (b)).

BOX 5.1 DEFINITIONS OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATION

A number of studies have documented the considerable differences
between countries and social groups as to their perceptions and level
of knowledge of politics and their attitudes towards political power
and institutions. Some of these differences in ‘political culture’ are
summarised in Table 5.2 and clearly are important in understanding
differences between political systems in different countries.

BOX 5.2 POLITICAL CULTURE

PROCESSES 105

the personal and social origins of political outlooks.

(Dawson et al., 1977: 1)

is the process of induction into political culture. Its end product is a set

of attitudes, cognitions, value standards and feelings – toward the

political system, its various roles, and role incumbents. It also includes

knowledge of, values affecting, and feelings toward the inputs of

demands and claims into the system, and its authoritative output.

(Almond, in Almond and Coleman, 1960: 26–58)

The mental and intellectual environment in which politics is shaped,

interpreted and judged. The knowledge, beliefs, values and attitudes

of individuals and societies towards government and politics.

(Pye and Verba, 1965)