SAGE Journal Articles

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Ojeda, C. and Hatemi, P.K. (2015). Accounting for the Child in the Transmission of Party Identification. American Sociological Review. 80 (6): 1150–1174.

Learning Objective: LO 4-2: Explain the significance of agents of socialization in the development of the self.

Summary: As agents of socialization, parents actively shape the identity of their children. The authors argue that children learn their political party affiliations from parents through a two-step socialization process, perception, and adoption, for party identification.

Questions to Consider:

  1. According to the authors, why do political socialization and political affiliation play important roles in the personal lives and life decisions of people in the United States?
  2. What is the “passive” model of political socialization described in the article? What are some shortcomings or limitations of this model?
  3. In which ways does the “active” two-step model of perception and adoption differ from the “passive” model? Consider how concepts of agency, direction of influence, and actors in social interaction differ in across models.