Without Politics It Would Be Like a Robbery Without Police

Children’s Interest in Politics

Bibliographic Data

ID4830675
AuthorsLena Haug (University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany, corresponding author)
Year2017
Volume61
Issue2
Pages254-272
Publication date2017-02-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Behavioral Scientist (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0002-7642 • E-ISSN: 1552-3381
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0002764216689125
OpenAlexW2593769200
LanguageEN
Citations received10
References cited10

The present study investigates the intensity and nature of children's political interest based on an ontogenetic theory of interest development. It examines concepts of politics, the degree of general and issue interest, as well as the reasons why children develop political interest. The sample consists of 594 primary and secondary pupils aged 8 to 12 years. A combination of questionnaires and drawing tasks were used to evaluate the children's interest in politics. The findings demonstrate a high and consistent degree of political interest. Some topics (e.g., war) stand out to be of particular interest to the children. Topic interest is stimulated either by a topic's perceived relevance or by its attention-drawing potential. Differences among the children suggest that influences on the development of political interest take effect already in childhood

Epistemology · General interest · Interest group · Political science · Politics · Relevance (law) · Self-interest · Special Interest Group · Educator Training and Historical Pedagogy · Law · Psychology · Social Media and Politics · Social Psychology · Youth Development and Social Support

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