Stratification and the Dimensions of American Political Orientations

Abstract

This paper develops, on the basis of theory and empirical research, several hypotheses about the effects of positions in the stratification system on the political orientations of the American mass public. These hypotheses were tested with Joreskog's LISREL program by fitting a series of multivariate models with unmeasured variables to data from the 1972 CPS national election survey. Results suggest that three distinct dimensions, involving social, economic, and racial orientations are present in the mass public. The impact of stratification differs, with higher income leading to greater economic conservatism, higher education influencing liberalism on social issues, and race primarily affecting racial attitudes. An attempt to duplicate the analyses using data from the 1972-1978 General Social Surveys on national spending preferences produced similarities only on the racial dimension. Reasons for the greater credibility for the CPS results as a test of the theoretical hypotheses are discussed.

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