Do the Mass Media Play a Role in Political Socialisation?

The article focuses on the role of mass media in political socialisation. Family communication structure is conceptualised in terms of the degree to which the communication environment emphasises socio-orientaton and the degree to which it emphasises concept-orientation. Families stressing Socio-orientation encourage the child to maintain harmonious interpersonal relationships, avoid controversy, and repress feelings on extrapersonal topics. Families stressing concept-orientation emphasise expression of ideas and exposure to controversy. The article found that differences in engaging in politically relevant communication behaviours, and in at least one particular kind of political knowledge and political attitude are located by age, with older children more attuned to and sophisticated about politics. Similarly, there is evidence that these variables are somewhat affected by salient events such as an election campaign, although the influence of the campaign operates differentially as a function of age.