Unsettled in the starting blocks: a case study of internal efficacy socialisation in the Republic of Ireland. Issue 3 (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Murphy, Philip
• Is Part Of: Irish political studies. Volume 32:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 479
• Page End: 497
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Political efficacy -- socialisation -- thresholders -- Ireland -- political education; Ireland -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 320.9415
• DOI: 10.1080/07907184.2016.1255201
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0790-7184

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study looks at the socialisation of internal political efficacy. It assesses the link from individual background, through socio-political learning experiences, to the perception of political competence. A quantitative survey of thresholders ( n 849), i.e. adolescents on the threshold of voting age in the Republic of Ireland provides data for analysis, with a particular focus on their socialisation experiences in home, school and associational settings. It finds a higher sense of internal efficacy among young males than females, irrespective of socialisation experience. Family politicisation is found to mitigate the differences in internal efficacy associated with socio-economic status. Though some pseudo-political mastery experiences from school and associational environs assessed here are linked to thresholder's internal efficacy, the link is minor.