Departmental Papers (ASC)
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
November 2007
Publication Source
American Political Science Review
Volume
101
Issue
4
Start Page
621
Last Page
635
DOI
10.1017/S000305540707044X
Abstract
How do Americans acquire the impression that their political foes have some understandable basis for their views, and thus represent a legitimate opposition? How do they come to believe that reasonable people may disagree on any given political controversy? Given that few people talk regularly to those of opposing perspectives, some theorize that mass media, and television in particular, serve as an important source of exposure to the rationales for oppositional views. A series of experimental studies suggests that television does, indeed, have the capacity to encourage greater awareness of oppositional perspectives. However, common characteristics of televised political discourse—–incivility and close-up camera perspectives—–cause audiences to view oppositional perspectives as less legitimate than they would have otherwise. I discuss the broader implications of these findings for assessments of the impact of television on the political process, and for the perspective that televised political discourse provides on oppositional political views.
Copyright/Permission Statement
Copyright © 2002 by the American Political Science Association. Online at Cambridge Journals Online.
Recommended Citation
Mutz, D. C. (2007). Effects of "In-Your-Face" Television Discourse on Perceptions of a Legitimate Opposition. American Political Science Review, 101 (4), 621-635. https://doi.org/10.1017/S000305540707044X
Date Posted: 27 October 2008
This document has been peer reviewed.