THE POLITICAL SELF

Understanding Politics

Kendall defines politics as a social institution through which power is acquired and exercised by
people and groups

Aristotle describes the role that politics and the political community must play in bringing about the
virtuous life in the citizenry.

• Politics exists in all human societies, It serves as the mechanism by which individuals develop power
and understand proper functioning of a democratic society as a citizen

• Citizenship is the most basic identification with the nation. The term denotes the membership of a
citizen in a political society.

• Stevens, Anglin and Jussim (2015) cite that in some people, Politics is a central component of their
identity.

• The political community where people belong offers an opportunity to satisfy their needs for affiliation.

Political Self and Identity

 The political self organizes self –relevant information about politics

 It helps in defining the structure and functions of the government, in telling and understanding
the relationship between the state and the citizens, and in describing their rights, freedom, and
obligations as citizens

 Identity is one important component of political self, the person’s understanding of who and
what he or she is.

The political self is often defined by citizenship

• From the social and psychological perspectives, the individual’s claim to citizenship means that the
person relates himself or herself to a group of others who also see themselves as citizens of a larger
polity.

• The political self and identity are developed through socialization, the ways people learn the knowledge,
norms, values, motives, and roles appropriate to their positions in group or community.

• Through social interaction, people learn the status, duties, rights, and power necessary to interact
successfully with other people in the group or community.

The Origins of Political Self

• The family has a hierarchical structure which requires each member to perform his or her role.
• The family consists of members who differ in status, obligations, influence, or power. The father is the
most influential member of the family.

• The father acts as leader entails power and authority which he coordinates with the mother in helping
the children.

• This shows that authority is necessary in the development of the political self and identity.

• The ordered positions and ascribe roles in the family prepare children form several and higher roles
external to the family, in the context of being citizen of the state.

• The church also helps shape the ideals of citizenship and democracy through their religious teachings,
values and traditions.

• Peers are also important in influencing the political self. In peer groups, the members are equal status

• Thus, interaction with peers encompasses and emphasizes the equal distribution of power, rights and
privileges among members of the group.

Theories of Political Self

1. Social Learning Theory
 A person can acquire learning through observation and imitation. In Imitation, the learner
watches the behavior in a similar way.

Political Socialization- life long process by which individuals gain knowledge about politics

2. Cognitive Theory
 Which suggest that the mental activities of individuals are important determinants of behavior.

3. Theory of Symbolic Interaction

 That behaviors are products of communication, meaning and symbols. People give meanings to
symbols and they express these meanings through language and communication.

4. Theory of Political Participation

 Any activity concerning government or of the state. The extent and scope of political
participation may be important criteria for assessing the value or quality of symbols and
meanings that people ascribe to politics.