Political Science 101 > Political Behavior and Public Opinion > Flashcards

Political Behavior and Public Opinion Flashcards

Explores political socialization, public opinion, media's role, and the dynamics of political movements. (51 cards)

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1
Q

Define:

Political behavior

A

It refers to actions and attitudes that influence political processes and outcomes.

Includes voting, protesting, activism, and political discussion.

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2
Q

True or False:

Political behavior is shaped only by individual choices.

A

False

It’s influenced by social, cultural, psychological, and institutional factors.

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3
Q

What are two types of political behavior?

A

Conventional (e.g., voting) and unconventional (e.g., protests).

Both are forms of political engagement.

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4
Q

Fill in the blanks:

A person’s ______ ______ often guides how they process political information.

A

political ideology

Ideologies act as cognitive filters for interpreting events.

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5
Q

Explain how political science studies behavior.

A

By analyzing patterns in attitudes, decisions, and participation.

Methods include surveys, experiments, and case studies.

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6
Q

What is political socialization?

A

The process of learning political beliefs, norms, behaviors and values.

It begins early and continues throughout life.

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7
Q

True or False:

Political socialization only occurs during childhood.

A

False

It begins in childhood but continues throughout life with changing influences.

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8
Q

Who are the main agents of political socialization?

A

Family, school, peers, media, religion, and life experiences.

Their influence varies over time.

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9
Q

What’s one major long-term influence on political beliefs?

A

party identification

It often remains stable over a person’s lifetime.

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10
Q

True or False:

Schools influence political beliefs by teaching civic values.

A

True

Education can shape trust in institutions and democratic norms.

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11
Q

Explain why family is important in early political learning.

A

Children often adopt their family’s political party and ideology.

Family influence is strongest in early socialization.

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12
Q

Why is adolescence a critical stage for political development?

A

Individuals begin forming independent political identities.

Peer influence grows during this stage.

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13
Q

Define:

Public opinion

A

The collective attitudes of citizens on political issues.

Often measured through opinion polls.

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14
Q

How does economic status influence political opinions?

A

People with different economic experiences may prioritize different policies (e.g., taxation, welfare), leading to varied political beliefs.

Individuals facing economic insecurity may support redistributive policies, while those with wealth may prefer lower taxes.

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15
Q

What is the media in politics?

A

It refers to all communication channels—like TV, newspapers, and social media—that share political information and influence public opinion.

The media acts as a link between politicians and the public, shaping discourse and political attitudes.

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16
Q

How does media influence public opinion?

A

Through agenda-setting, framing, and issue priming.

It shapes what people think about and how they think about it.

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17
Q

What is the main idea of agenda-setting theory?

A

The media influences which issues people see as important by prioritizing certain topics, media shapes the public’s perception of issue importance.

Agenda-setting shapes public opinion by controlling issue salience, not opinions themselves.

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18
Q

Fill in the blanks:

Framing refers to how media ______ or ______ a political issue.

A

presents; interprets

This can affect emotional and policy responses.

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19
Q

Which of these best illustrates media framing?

A. A reporter choosing not to cover a protest
B. A news anchor focusing on the economic impact of a policy
C. A poll showing changes in voter support
D. A politician tweeting a campaign slogan

A

B. A news anchor focusing on the economic impact of a policy

Framing refers to how an issue is presented to influence interpretation.

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20
Q

True or False:

The media only reports facts

A

False

Media not only informs but also frames issues, affecting how the public understands them.

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21
Q

Define:

Media bias

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A

The tendency of media to present information that favors particular political perspectives.

Bias can appear in story selection, framing, and tone.

22
Q

True or False:

Social media has decreased political polarization.

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A

False

It often creates echo chambers and reinforces bias.

23
Q

Explain the “nature vs. nurture” debate in political behavior.

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A

It questions whether political attitudes stem from genetics or environment.

Most scholars agree it’s a mix of both.

24
Q

What is rational choice theory in politics?

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A

It suggests individuals make decisions to maximize their own benefit.

Voting and policy support are seen as strategic actions.

25
What are **heuristics** in **political decision-making**?
Mental shortcuts, like party affiliation or candidate appearance. ## Footnote Used to simplify complex decisions, e.g., party labels.
26
Explain how **motivated reasoning** affects political thinking.
People defend their beliefs by **filtering** information to fit what they want to believe. ## Footnote It's an unconscious bias that strengthens partisanship.
27
# True or False: **Behavioralism** focuses on institutions and ideologies.
False ## Footnote It focuses on **observable actions and behaviors.**
28
# Define: Political efficacy
Belief in one’s ability to **understand and influence politics.** ## Footnote High efficacy increases the **likelihood of participation.**
29
# Fill in the blank: **Fear and anger** can increase support for \_\_\_\_\_\_ policies.
punitive ## Footnote Emotions often override **rational thinking** in politics.
30
What **political trait** is linked to a desire for **order and obedience**?
Authoritarianism ## Footnote Often aligns with **conservative ideologies.**
31
Explain **group identity’s role** in political behavior.
It shapes attitudes, causing in-group **favoritism** and out-group **bias.** ## Footnote Based on race, religion, party, or other identities.
32
# True or False: Empathy can drive support for **welfare and redistributive policies.**
True ## Footnote Emotional responses play a big role in **political values.**
33
How does **selective exposure** influence **public opinion**?
People seek media that confirms their beliefs, **reinforcing polarization.** ## Footnote It contributes to echo chambers and biased worldviews.
34
What are **echo chambers** in **political communication**?
They are **environments** where people are only exposed to information and opinions that **reinforce their existing beliefs.** ## Footnote Echo chambers **limit exposure to diverse views,** often increasing political polarization and misinformation.
35
# True or False: **Filter bubbles** are created when algorithms curate content based on a **user’s preferences**, limiting exposure to opposing viewpoints.
True ## Footnote Filter bubbles are a result of personalization algorithms, especially on **social media,** that show users what they are likely to agree with, reinforcing bias.
36
What is the **“spiral of silence”**?
It’s when people with **minority opinions stay silent** due to fear of rejection. ## Footnote This can **skew public perception** of dominant views.
37
# Fill in the blank: **Social media** enables rapid spread of both **information** and \_\_\_\_\_\_.
misinformation ## Footnote This has impacted elections and **movements globally.**
38
Name two examples of **political participation beyond voting.**
protesting and online activism ## Footnote These are powerful tools in **modern civic life.**
39
# Fill in the blank: **Voter turnout** is primarily influenced by factors such as ____, ____, and ____.
voter education, registration laws, and perceived political efficacy ## Footnote Turnout is also shaped by age, socioeconomic status, competitiveness of elections, and **ease of access to polling places.**
40
Why is the **media** considered a **'watchdog'** in politics?
Because it **monitors those in power**, exposing wrongdoing and holding political actors accountable. ## Footnote Investigative journalism plays a key role in democratic transparency.
41
Name two types of **media used in political communication.**
Broadcast media (e.g., TV, radio) and social media platforms (e.g., Twitter, Facebook) ## Footnote Each type reaches **different audiences** and influences public opinion in unique ways.
42
# True or False: **Social media** allows politicians to bypass traditional media and **speak directly to voters.**
True ## Footnote Platforms like Twitter and Instagram give politicians **unfiltered** access to the public.
43
Identify one benefit and one risk of **social media in politics.**
* **Benefit**: enables fast, direct communication and grassroots mobilization. * **Risk**: spreads misinformation and increases polarization. ## Footnote Social media empowers but also complicates democratic participation.
44
Identify two methods used to **measure public opinion.**
* Surveys/polls * Social media analytics ## Footnote While surveys are **traditional and statistically sound**, social media offers **real-time but less representative data.**
45
What is a margin of error in **polling**?
The range within which the true population value is likely to fall, indicating the **level of uncertainty** in a poll. ## Footnote Smaller margins of error suggest more precise estimates; common in well-designed representative surveys.
46
# Fill in the blank: \_\_\_\_\_\_ polls are conducted after voters leave the voting place to **predict election outcomes.**
Exit ## Footnote Exit polls help media and researchers understand **voter behavior and preferences** on election day.
47
Why is **question wording** important in surveys?
Poorly worded questions can lead to **biased or misleading results**, affecting the accuracy of public opinion data. ## Footnote Neutral, clear, and balanced wording ensures respondents understand and interpret questions similarly.
48
# True or False: **Focus groups** offer statistically representative insights into public opinion.
False ## Footnote Focus groups provide **in-depth qualitative insights** but are not generalizable to a larger population.
49
How did the **#MeToo movement** affect **political discourse**?
It sparked policy changes and raised awareness of **sexual misconduct.** ## Footnote It shows the political power of collective storytelling.
50
# True or False: The **Arab Spring** demonstrated how **digital communication can help mobilize political movements** and challenge authoritarian regimes.
True ## Footnote Social media platforms played a central role in spreading **protest messages** and coordinating mass demonstrations across the Middle East and North Africa.
51
Explain how the **Black Lives Matter movement** has influenced **public opinion** and political engagement in the U.S.
It raised **awareness about racial injustice**, increased political activism—especially among youth—and pressured policymakers to address systemic inequality. ## Footnote BLM exemplifies how **social movements shape political discourse** and influence elections, legislation, and local governance.
Political Science 101
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