The development of attitudes and beliefs about a political system is known as

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the term describing the development (the process) of attitudes and beliefs about a political system. The key word is "development," which points to a process of learning or acquiring.

Step 2: Explain the concepts

• Political orientation: An individual's attitudes or leanings toward politics (e.g., liberal or conservative). It is the result, not the process.
• Political apathy: Lack of interest or involvement in political activities, such as not voting.
• Political culture: The overall pattern of attitudes, beliefs, and values a society holds about its political system. It is the product, the shared set of beliefs.
• Political socialisation: The process by which individuals acquire their political attitudes, beliefs, and values, through agents such as family, school, peer groups, mass media, religious bodies, and political parties.

Step 3: Apply to the question The question stresses the development of attitudes and beliefs. That describes a process of learning, which is political socialisation. Political culture is what results when these attitudes are shared across a society, but it is not the process of developing them.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is **D.

Tip: Remember "socialisation = process, culture = product." If a question says development, acquisition, learning, or transmission of political values, think socialisation. If it says the set or pattern of beliefs in a society, think culture.