A5025705078- Electoral Systems and Political Participation
- Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Climate Change Communication and Perception
- Social Media and Politics
- Social and Cultural Dynamics
- Political Philosophy and Ethics
- BRCA gene mutations in cancer
- Religion and Society Interactions
- Race, Genetics, and Society
- LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Policy and Reform Studies
- Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
- Electron and X-Ray Spectroscopy Techniques
- Populism, Right-Wing Movements
- Academic Freedom and Politics
- Environmental Education and Sustainability
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection
- Political Influence and Corporate Strategies
- Computational and Text Analysis Methods
- Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
- Feminist Epistemology and Gender Studies
- COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts
- Conferences and Exhibitions Management
- War, Ethics, and Justification
American University
2015-2024
Lafayette College
2011-2014
University of Michigan
2008
We examine whether and how elite discourse shapes mass opinion action on immigration policy. One popular but untested suspicion is that reactions to news about the costs of depend upon who immigrants are. confirm this in a nationally representative experiment: boosts white opposition far more when Latino immigrants, rather than European are featured. find these group cues influence political by triggering emotions—in particular, anxiety—not simply changing beliefs severity problem. A second...
In the years following 9/11, surveys have revealed high levels of public support for policies related to war on terror that, many argue, contravene long-standing American ideals. Extant research would suggest that such preferences result from activation authoritarianism. That is, terrorist attacks caused those predisposed toward intolerance and aggression become even more intolerant aggressive. However, using data two national surveys, we find who score in authoritarianism do not hawkish or...
Affective and social political polarization—a dislike of opponents a desire to avoid their company—are increasingly salient pervasive features politics in many Western democracies, particularly the United States. One contributor these related phenomena may be increasing exposure online disagreements which ordinary citizens criticize, sometimes explicitly demean, opponents. This article presents two experimental studies that assessed whether U.S. partisans’ attitudes became more prejudiced...
Political psychologists have established that politically motivated reasoning is a common phenomenon; however, the field knows comparatively less about psychological mechanisms drive it. Drawing on advances in understanding of relevance emotion to political and behavior, we argue anger likely plays major role motivating individuals engage biased assimilation information—an evaluative bias favor information bolsters one's views against undercuts them. We test this proposition with two online...
Conventional wisdom suggests that political conservatives are more likely than liberals to endorse genetic explanations for many human characteristics and behaviors. Whether what extent this is true has received surprisingly limited systematic attention. We examine evidence from a large U.S. public opinion survey measured the which respondents believed account variety of differences among individuals as well groups in society. find were indeed perceived race class often associated with...
Does learning that homosexuality is innate increase support for gay rights? Because there a strong correlation between the belief people are "born gay" and rights, many assume former causes latter. However, does not equal causation. Drawing on data from US-representative experiment, we examine whether exposure to scientific information origins of sexual orientation influences attitudes toward rights. The influenced participants' beliefs about but had no impact their attitudes. Further,...
As economic inequality increases, so does the importance of understanding affluent perspectives on problem. We examine whether Americans are more likely than others to hold individuals responsible for relative success in life and such beliefs associated with their policy attitudes. conducted a novel survey that oversampled top 5% US income wealth distributions. elicited views about dispositional (intelligence, hard work) situational (family, luck) causes as well explanations why...
The importance of trust in government amid health emergencies has become apparent, especially given its impact on behavior. Yet scholars often treat simplistically, measuring it at one point time and a unidimensional way. We use unique series surveys carried out during the first year pandemic to examine changing different actors over then link relative compliance with expert-recommended behaviors. find that declined this period, large declines for federal state local government. somewhat...
In recent decades, Americans’ thinking regarding the causes of human behavior has changed considerably. particular, there been a swing toward attributing variety behaviors to biological factors, and perhaps nowhere is this more evident than for sexual orientation. paper, we draw on two overtime survey datasets argue that new scientific evidence bases homosexuality in 1990s rapidly commonly held beliefs. However, because these explanations were perceived be relevant gay rights, persuasion...
Abstract The American public's beliefs about the causes of social inequality vary greatly, with debates over racial tending to be most salient and divisive. Among whites in particular, liberals tend see as rooted society's ills, whereas conservatives individuals’ shortcomings. Given this, many infer that white are more likely than adopt controversial view is “natural,” i.e., due genetically inherited characteristics. We argue genetic explanations for inequality, themselves, offer little...
Building on psychological research linking essentialist beliefs about human differences with prejudice, we test whether lay belief in the biological basis of political ideology is associated intolerance and social avoidance. In two studies American adults (Study 1: N = 288, Study 2: 164), find that views greater avoidance ideologically dissimilar others. The association substantively large robust to demographic, religious, control variables. These findings stand contrast some theoretical...
Putnam warned over a decade ago that the urge to associate with similar others online may lead “cyberbalkanization,” fostering bonding capital at expense of bridging capital. This study examines balkanization respect political blogs, investigating what extent opinions in posts and comment sections on blogs associated left right are ideologically polarized. We also investigate whether extreme tend co-occur uncivil discourse aimed opponents. Finally, this compares newer information source...
Political psychologists have established that politically motivated reasoning is a common phenomenon; however, the field knows comparatively less about psychological mechanisms drive it. Drawing on advances in understanding of relevance emotion to political and behavior, we argue anger likely plays major role motivating individuals engage biased assimilation information—an evaluative bias favor information bolsters one's views against undercuts them. We test this proposition with two online...
While much is known about the influence of partisan elites on mass opinion, relatively little peer-to-peer within parties. We test impact messages signaling political parties' issue stances citizens' own professed policy preferences, comparing party to that co-partisan peers. Using an online experiment conducted with a quasi-representative sample Americans, we demonstrate across two domains (education and international trade) opinions peers are just as influential preferences elites....
Karen L. Akerlofa* , Taryn Bromser-Kloedena, Kristin Timmb Katherine E. Rowanb James Oldsc Chris Clarkeb, Elizabeth Ban Rohringd Emily Therese Cloyde K. Curranf, C. Duesterhoeftg, Mahmud Farooqueh Erica Goldmani, Lisa Gring-Pemblej, Stephanie Hamptonk Sojung Claire Kimb John Kotcherb Darren Milliganl Carlos Muñoz Brenesm Cynthia Sandovaln, Dann Sklarewa Smitha Suhayo David Tomblinp Crystal Uppermanq, Andrew Wingfieldr & Xiaoquan Zhaoba Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George...
What causes individuals to express patriotism? We argue that Americans’ symbolic patriotism stems in part from social influence, with norms relevant identity groups influencing individuals’ levels. Given Americans identify multiple – national, racial, and religious, among others many are potentially influential this regard. focus article on Muslim Americans, an especially diverse group, conducting experiment approximately 450 across the USA. randomly assigned participants stimuli portrayed...
Abstract Scholars increasingly recognize that voters’ attitudes about gender shape their electoral preferences. Yet previous research has not captured important nuances of the relationship between and choice. We argue effects are unidirectional interact in complex ways with perceptions candidates, depending only on candidates’ sex but also gender-relevant characteristics values. draw an original survey Americans during 2016 elections measured three attitudes—hostile sexism, modern...
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ABSTRACT As professors, we seek not only to impart knowledge about issues and concepts in American politics but also engage inspire students become more knowledgeable active politics. This article explains how a student-run exit poll conducted on Election Day 2016 accomplished both goals. Seven faculty members from four universities pooled our carried out an the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio. By time polls closed, had spoken than 2,300 respondents, providing memorable...