Final answer:
Political beliefs are shaped by a process called political socialization, which starts in childhood and continues throughout an individual's life, influenced by family, social experiences, and media. This process shapes one's political ideology and involvement in political communities of interest.
Step-by-step explanation:
Political beliefs emerge from an ongoing process called political socialization. This process is the way individuals develop their political ideologies, including their values and attitudes about politics, and it begins early in life. Family, education, media, and personal experiences are among the various factors contributing to political socialization, shaping individuals' views on policies, the role of government, citizenship, and their overall political identity.
As part of this, political ideology serves as a framework for people's thinking on political issues, centered around beliefs and principles. Whether events such as 9/11, social movements like those of the 1960s and 1970s, or continuous exposure to political information, they all play a significant part in the ongoing development of an individual's political leanings.
Communities of interest, such as those formed around environmentalism or other lifestyle choices, contribute to the organic emergence of political cultures and can lead to involvement in social movements or the establishment of formal interest groups.