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The Trump Paradox: How Cues from a Disliked Source Foster Resistance to Persuasion
[journal article]
Abstract We usually reject information from sources we dislike. But what if those same sources explicitly disagree with that information? Are we more likely to be persuaded by information that is opposed by someone we dislike? We present results from an experimental study with a convenience sample of 199 Dut... view more
We usually reject information from sources we dislike. But what if those same sources explicitly disagree with that information? Are we more likely to be persuaded by information that is opposed by someone we dislike? We present results from an experimental study with a convenience sample of 199 Dutch students. Respondents were exposed to counter-attitudinal information on climate change in an attempt to generate persuasion, and in a second time exposed to a tweet from the current US president, Donald J. Trump, as a positive or negative endorsement of the counter-attitudinal. Results show that positive endorsements reduce the persuasive power of counter-attitudinal information, whereas negative endorsements (marginally) increase its persuasive power. These results have important implications in today's politics, where "disliked" figures - most of the time referred to as "populists" - play an increasingly central role in framing the terms of the debate on the most salient issues.... view less
Keywords
populism; social media; twitter; political communication; opinion formation; polarization; persuasion
Classification
Interactive, electronic Media
Political Process, Elections, Political Sociology, Political Culture
Free Keywords
Donald Trump
Document language
English
Publication Year
2020
Page/Pages
p. 122-132
Journal
Politics and Governance, 8 (2020) 1
Issue topic
Leadership, Populism and Power
ISSN
2183-2463
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed