what kind of image do we create of those involved in politics? nóra orsolya balázs eötvös...
TRANSCRIPT
What kind of image do we What kind of image do we create of those involved in create of those involved in politics?politics?
Nóra Orsolya Balázs
Eötvös Loránd University
Budapest
HUNGARY
Nóra Lantos
Eötvös Loránd University
Budapest
HUNGARY
Stereotypes of the left and the right in three different contexts
18th July 2013.
POLITICAL HISTORYPOLITICAL HISTORY
1989. october 23. – End of soviet regime
Post-communist heritage◦ Depoliticized citizens◦ Political participation is limited to the elections◦ Being politically active has no attraction, prestige or
utility
Hungary is still learning democratic functioning
ACTUAL POLITICS IN HUNGARYACTUAL POLITICS IN HUNGARY
Present government: Fidesz President: Viktor Orbán
Robust shift to the political right
RESEARCH QUESTIONSRESEARCH QUESTIONS
2 main focus: the structure and the content of the stereotypes
What dimensions do we use when we adjudge those who are connected to the political left-wing or the political right-wing?
What stereotypes do leftists and rightst have of the ingroup and the outgroup? (auto-stereotypes and stereotypes)
Person-positivity bias (Sears, 1983)
A person connected to a political side is perceived more favorably compared to the party or the group one belongs to.
Motivated social cognition
Conservatives: prefer safety, structure and order → tend to be closed-minded
Liberals: prefer freedom, ambiguity → tend to be open-minded
Research evidence (mostly in Western countries) (Jost, 1999; Chirumbolo, 2002; Kruglanski, 2004; Caprara et al., 2006 Calogero, 2009; Caprara et al., 2006)
Critics (Greenberg & Jonas, 2003)
THEORETICAL BASISTHEORETICAL BASIS
Previous research: Stereotypes of the Previous research: Stereotypes of the voters of Fidesz and MSZPvoters of Fidesz and MSZP(Krekó & Hunyady, 2006)(Krekó & Hunyady, 2006)
Similar methods and backgroundStereotypes
Natural part of lay epistemics Left and Right are considered as
antagonistic parties
Relevance in 2013
METHODSMETHODS Paper-and-pencil testing 3 different questionnaires – 3 different contexts
◦ Person they know
◦ Fictitious person
◦ Well-known person
Evaluate them on a 6 point Likert-scale Personality trait pairs according to personality, cognitive
theories
„Please evaluate this person along the personality trait pairs listed below!”ACTIVE 3 2 1 1 2 3 PASSIVE
FRIENDLY 3 2 1 1 2 3 UNFRIENDLY
LIBERAL 3 3 1 1 2 3 CONSERVATIVE
………. 3 2 1 1 2 3 ……….
THE SAMPLE I.THE SAMPLE I. Adults, mostly university students and graduates (N =
449)
45% 55%
Heterogeneous by age 37 (st. d.=14)
finished education 50%+
township type 49%
THE SAMPLE II.THE SAMPLE II. „In politics we often talk
about left and right wing. On a scale of 1 to 7, where would you place yourself? (If 1 means political right and 7 means political left.)”
„Is there a party that is closer to you than the others? Which one is it?”
There isn’t any: 66%
RESULTS I.RESULTS I.Leftists about leftist well-known
person
Gordon Bajnai 32%
Attila Mesterházy 17%
Ferenc Gyurcsány 15%
Others: Critics from television!
Rightists about rightist well-known person
Viktor Orbán 45%
Gábor Vona10,5%
Others: rightist politicians!
Leftists about rightist well-known person
Viktor Orbán 34%
Gábor Vona 8,5%
Zsolt Semjén 5,1%
Rightists about leftist well-known person
Ferenc Gyurcsány 39%
Attila Mesterházy 13%
Gordon Bajnai 8%
RESULTS II.Factor analysis:
Personally known person is warmer, likeable than fictitious
more trustworthy, respectable and honest
Well-known person involved in politics:◦ Warmth◦ Competence◦ Open and closed mindedness
THEREFORE politicians are evaluated along several and more complex dimensions than civils
only leftists use this dimension
RESULTS III.1.RESULTS III.1.Stereotypes of the well-Stereotypes of the well-known leftists and rightists known leftists and rightists (politicians)(politicians)
In general: enjudgement of the ingroup is more detailed and positive compared to the outgroup
Similarities◦ Leftists are not religious◦ Rightists are conservative◦ Describe each other as arrogant◦ Leftists think rightists to be self-confident,
active and schooled (all in all: charismatic)
Differences◦ Rightists query the morality of leftists
(‘dishonest, unreliable, untruthful’- no positive features)
◦ Leftists mention ‘active, self-confident, radical, closed-minded, and socially indifferent’ → Refer to the misuse of power and competence
→ Actual political discourse◦ Open-closed-mindedness as a dimension is
only used by leftists
RESULTS III.2.RESULTS III.2.Stereotypes of the well-Stereotypes of the well-known leftists and rightists known leftists and rightists (politicians)(politicians)
DiscussionDiscussionNegative image of politicians-
Disappointment, depoliticization
Political person perception: new dimension: Open-Closed-Mindedness (but only by Leftists; Rightists: not relevant)
Image of leftist politicians is more diffuse◦ Being opposition◦ More fragmanted
Actual political discourse and common talk appears in strereotypes – Power of politicians in shaping common perceptions
Thank you for your Thank you for your attention!attention!