Social Identification and Public Opinion: Effects of Communicating Group Conflict

  • Price V
N/ACitations
Citations of this article
48Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.
Get full text

Abstract

Public opinion formation is a social and communica- tive process; and individuals' opinions thus depend in many ways upon the social context surrounding public issues. Consequently this research investigates the interaction between people's social identities and mass media reports of public issues emphasizing conflicts of opinion between social groups. Current theory and research on social identification and intergroup behavior are used to develop a three-stage model of the cognitive; perceptual; and behavioral processes which may be triggered by media reports of group conflict. According to the model; a news report emphasiz- ing group conflict over an issue (1) cues its recipients to think about the issue through their particular group perspective; which (2) leads to polarized or exaggerated perceptions of group opin- ions; and finally (3) leads to expressions of personal opinion con- sistent with these exaggerated perceptions of group norms. Fac- tors contributing to and inhibiting this kind of response are also incorporated into the model. Analyses of experimental data from college undergraduates who read and responded to experimen- tally prepared newspaper articles covering a campus issue are reviewed. The results are found generally to support the social identification model and serve to illustrate how media reports emphasizing group conflicts may play an important role in the formation of public opinion.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Price, V. (1989). Social Identification and Public Opinion: Effects of Communicating Group Conflict. Public Opinion Quarterly, 53(2), 197. https://doi.org/10.1086/269503

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free