Sources of Civic Orientation among American Youth: Trust, Religious Valuation, and Attributions of Responsibility

In: Political psychology: journal of the International Society of Political Psychology, Band 23, Heft 1, S. 113-132

Abstract

This study identified affective & cognitive factors predicting American 6th, 8th, & 10th graders' civic orientation, defined here as feelings of effective community service, conceptualizations of citizenship, & participation in student government. Independent variables included measures of interpersonal trust, valuation of religion, & individualistic vs collective action attributions of responsibility for solving social problems. Interpersonal trust predicted four out of the five outcome variables. Individualistic attribution of social responsibility was a predictor of running for student government office, & collective action attribution was a predictor of conceptualizations of citizenship. Religious valuation also predicted conceptualizations of citizenship as well as feelings of effective community service. For the most part, grade level did not play a significant role in predicting youth's civic orientation. Results are discussed in terms of the literature on social capital & developmental theory. 2 Tables, 1 Appendix, 57 References. Adapted from the source document.