Research Catalog

Disrespectful democracy the psychology of political incivility

Title
Disrespectful democracy [electronic resource] : the psychology of political incivility / Emily Sydnor.
Author
Sydnor, Emily.
Publication
New York : Columbia University Press, 2019.

Available Online

  • Available from home with a valid library card
  • Available onsite at NYPL

Details

Description
1 online resource (x, 243 pages) : illustrations.
Summary
"The majority of Americans think that politics has an "incivility problem," and that the problem has only gotten worse. Research demonstrates that negativity and incivility in politics have been increasing since the 1980s. Citizens underestimate, however, the impact that this uncivil tide has on their own reactions to political media coverage and on their political behavior. While political scientists have pointed to positive and negative effects of uncivil political communication, they assume that these behavioral changes are similar across all individuals. This book complicates the relationship between incivility and political behavior by introducing a key individual predisposition--conflict orientation. Political psychologist Emily Sydnor argues that individuals experience conflict in different ways; some enjoy arguments while others are uncomfortable and avoid face-to-face confrontation whenever possible. Using six primary surveys and survey experiments, and supplementing with additional data, she examines the behavioral effects of the interaction between conflict orientation and incivility. Specifically, she argues that this interaction affects how citizens engage with politics and political information in three primary ways: an affective response, producing divergent emotional responses to uncivil messages; the information-search, where anxiety and anger lead the conflict-avoidant to seek out more of the very thing they want to avoid, more uncivil political media; and engagement, where the conflict-avoidant pull away from political activities like protests and calls to their Congressperson whereas the conflict-approaching jump in"--
Uniform Title
Disrespectful democracy (Online)
Alternative Title
Disrespectful democracy (Online)
Subject
  • Political psychology > United States
  • Political culture > United States
  • Interpersonal conflict
  • Interpersonal confrontation
  • Democracy > Psychological aspects
  • Communication in politics > Psychological aspects
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access (note)
  • Access restricted to authorized users.
Contents
The political psychology of conflict communication -- To laugh or cry? : emotional responses to incivility -- Choosing outrage : selective posure and information search -- Mimicry and temper tantrums : political discussion and engagement -- Conclusion : a more disrespectfuldDemocracy? -- Appendix 1: Additional study information -- Appendix 2: Statistical models and results.
ISBN
9780231548250
LCCN
2019021844
OCLC
ssj0002233873
Author
Sydnor, Emily.
Title
Disrespectful democracy [electronic resource] : the psychology of political incivility / Emily Sydnor.
Imprint
New York : Columbia University Press, 2019.
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access
Access restricted to authorized users.
Connect to:
Available from home with a valid library card
Available onsite at NYPL
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