La maturation politique de l'adolescent aux Etats-Unis et en Allemagne

Abstract

Robert E. Lane : Adolescent political maturation in the United States and in Germany. On the basis of data from national sample surveys in the United States and Germany, the author constructs a typology of family Influence in adolescence: (1) influentials, (2) rebels, (3) submissives. There are proportionately more Influentials and Rebels in the United States and more Submissives in Germany. In both countries greater education and affiliation with Protestant churches are associated with a sense of appropriate influence, while submissive attitudes are encouraged by less education and Catholicism. In the United States it seems that shared parental control is associated with a greater sense of influence. Submissives in both countries participate less in politics than others, and, more importantly, Rebels participate less than Influentials. In Germany but not in the United States, Rebels are more likely to follow their parents political tradition than are Influentials, a phenomenon interpreted as possibly reflecting adult guilt over youthful rebellion,