Biographical Stages and Information Sources in the Formation of Historical Consciousness

The study inquires into the process of formation of historical consciousness among the population of the Czech Republic. The process is examined in terms of biographical stages and information sources. First, the study draws upon the concept of sensitive period developed by Schuman and Corning. Second, it notes the increasingly mediated nature of socialization to historical consciousness. Data were gathered through a representative survey of the Czech population, with events of February 1948 and August 1968 serving as historical reference points of historical consciousness. Analysis identifies a formative pattern consisting of three stages. The study also identifies typical information sources corresponding to each formative stage. Further analysis employed regression analysis to assess the influence of basic sociodemographic characteristics on the stage in which individuals are socialized.