Civic Socialization

Civic socialization describes the processes through which children and youths learn the orientations and behavioral patterns expected for citizens. From a lifespan perspective, the study of civic socialization focuses on understanding whether and how civic and political orientations evolve through the life history from childhood to late adulthood—for example, whether civic commitments and political behavior in adulthood are predicted by early attitudes and orientations.

The study of civic socialization is an interdisciplinary field and addresses both macro-level (the beliefs systems and settings through which political institutions inculcate norms and practices in their citizens) and micro-level processes (the means and mechanisms by which individuals engage in political learning and develop relations to the political contexts in which they live). Societies introduce their members to the political system ...