The Political Acculturation of Mexican American Adolescents

The political orientations of 150 Mexican American parochial high school students, between the ages of 16 and 18, were examined. Three dimensions of political orientations, affective, cognitive and behavioral, were examined within the context of both the American and Mexican political systems. Results indicate that acculturation plays an important role in mediating affective and cognitive political orientations. The profile of a low acculturated adolescent can be described as someone expressing more loyalty to the Mexican political system, less satisfaction with the United States' social achievements relative to Mexico, and less absolute satisfaction with the United States. A lower level of acculturation is also associated with more political knowledge about Mexican historical events and leaders. In regard to the behavioral component, affective experiences such as feelings of political inefficacy, absolute and relative satisfaction with the United States' achievements are good predictors of political orientations. This study challenges the assumption that political socialization follows a normal linear progression along an age continuum, irrespective of cultural allegiances and suggests the need to examine the effects of affective symbols on the political socialization process.