Political science - how South Africans learn about politics - advice - Do not focus only on learning amongst children. Do not focus only on the 'trickle down' approach to learning from parents to children. - Write an essay explaining why the above advice

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As a political scientist interested in the topic of how South Africans learn about politics (political socialization), you have been given two pieces of valid advice from a colleague:

1) Do not focus only on learning amongst children.

2) Do not focus only on the 'trickle down' approach to learning from parents to children.

Write an essay explaining why the above advice was given to you.

No one ever really stops to think about why one has the specific political beliefs and values that they do. Where did these political views come from? It is apparent, even to someone who has not studied political socialisation, that from a very young age we are influenced by external stimuli that shape our opinions and beliefs. Whether it be our parents, school, the media, or even our socio-economic group. Elcock turns to Robert Presthus to elucidate the concept of socialisation: "In some large measure, man is taught to honour the ongoing norms by a process called socialisation" (1976:110). Political scientists call the process by which we acquire political opinions "political socialization." It is generally accepted that political socialisation can be defined as a life-long process that