Chapter 11: Political Socialization and Public Opinion What is public opinion? What impact does public opinion have on government policy? What are public opinion polls and how does sampling take the pulse of the electorate? 1 Political Socialization Objectives: SWBAT: Identify factors that influence political socialization. 2 Political Socialization Political Socialization: process of acquiring political attitudes and values. Family School and peers Mass media Religious beliefs Race and ethnicity Gender Age Region Events Political Socialization The process through which an individual acquires particular political orientations The learning process by which people acquire their political beliefs and values