Intergenerational transmission of political attitudes
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Family Influence and Political Socialization in Intergenerational Transmission
Research consistently shows that families play a central role in the intergenerational transmission of political attitudes and ideologies. Children and adolescents often mirror the political interests and ideological preferences of their parents, with family discussions and interactions being particularly influential in shaping political participation and attitudes in the next generation 27. The family’s role as a socialization agent is especially strong in stable democracies, where the transmission of political attitudes is more pronounced compared to newer democracies .
Gender, Parenting Style, and Ideological Transmission
The process of transmitting political ideology from parents to children is shaped by both gender and parenting style. Studies find that the similarity in political ideology between parents and children can vary depending on whether the transmission is cross-gender (e.g., mother to son, father to daughter) and is also influenced by the warmth, autonomy support, or controlling behavior experienced by children from their parents 13. Notably, daughters are less likely than sons to adopt their parents’ right-leaning positions, and young women tend to place themselves further to the left than men, regardless of parental ideology. This suggests that gender-generation gaps can override other patterns in ideological transmission .
Mechanisms: Conversations, Role Modeling, and Socioeconomic Status
The mechanisms behind intergenerational transmission include active promotion of values, role modeling, and the transfer of socioeconomic status. Family discussions about politics and joint political activities are strongly linked to higher political participation and the adoption of similar attitudes by children 27. Higher socioeconomic status families are more effective in transmitting their political attitudes and behaviors to their children . Additionally, the presence of political conversations and knowledge about parental activism further strengthens the likelihood of children engaging in similar political actions .
Parental Roles and Bidirectional Influence
The influence of parents can differ between mothers and fathers. For example, fathers’ attitudes toward inclusive policies, such as migrant integration, have a stronger and sometimes bidirectional effect on adolescents’ attitudes, especially when fathers are left-leaning and provide high levels of support. Mothers’ influence in this area appears to be less direct . The complexity of family relationships, including the level of support and the frequency of discussions about current events, can amplify or reduce the strength of intergenerational transmission .
Social Mobility, Identity, and Disruption of Transmission
Intergenerational social mobility can weaken the influence of parental ideology, particularly for those who experience upward mobility. However, this effect may be due to self-selection rather than a direct causal relationship . In post-socialist societies, subjective perceptions of social mobility are linked to attitudes toward democracy, and the country’s level of democracy moderates this association . Additionally, the acquisition of non-hereditary social identities, such as sexual orientation, can disrupt the transmission of partisan preferences, with LGB individuals more likely to form political attachments independently of their parents, especially if they come from conservative households .
Immigrant Families and Transmission of Political Behavior
The transmission of political behaviors, such as voting, is less consistent in immigrant families, particularly among second-generation and 2.5-generation immigrants. Within-family political exposure, social engagement, and socioeconomic status only weakly explain the observed gaps in intergenerational transmission in these groups .
Sociological vs. Materialistic Explanations
The intergenerational correlation of political affiliation is strong and extends across generations and siblings. Evidence suggests that sociological explanations—such as family socialization and shared values—are more important than materialistic, rational-choice explanations in accounting for these patterns .
Conclusion
The intergenerational transmission of political attitudes is a complex process shaped by family dynamics, gender, parenting style, socioeconomic status, and broader social identities. While families remain a critical site for political socialization, factors such as gender, social mobility, and identity can modify or disrupt these patterns, highlighting the nuanced ways in which political attitudes are passed from one generation to the next.
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