Political Party Identification and Intergroup Attitudes: Exploring the Effects of Mediated and Direct Contact With the Opposing Party During a Presidential Campaign

Authors

  • Mei-Chen Lin Ken State University
  • Paul M. Haridakis Kent State University
  • Yan Bing Zhang University of Kansas

Keywords:

political identity, intergroup contact, social identity, presidential election, partisan media, political discussion

Abstract

Drawing from intergroup contact theory and social identity theory, this study explored the indirect effects of out-group partisan media exposure (Fox News for Democrats; MSNBC and CNN for Republicans), and out-group interpersonal political discussions with members of the opposing political party on intergroup bias and intergroup competition through party identity as a mediator. We also accounted for the effects of in-group partisan media exposure (Fox News for Republicans; MSNBC and CNN for Democrats) and interpersonal political discussion with members of one’s own party. The results suggested that interpersonal political discussion with “the other side” (out-group interpersonal discussion) and exposure to in-group media increased prejudicial attitudes and competitive intergroup behaviors, not only directly but also through enhanced party identity.

Author Biographies

Mei-Chen Lin, Ken State University

Mei-Chen Lin (Ph.D., University of Kansas) is Associate Professor in the School of Communication Studies at Kent State University. Phone: (330) 672-0281. Mei-Chen Lin’s research focuses on the ways in which individuals’ social identities influence their perceptions of self and interaction with others. Specifically, she conducts research in communicative issues revolving around aging and older adulthood, such as intergenerational communication, older adults’ age identity expression, family communication about aging related issues, and elder abuse in the informal caregiving settings. She also has applied a social identity perspective to examining the ways in which individuals’ political identity and intergroup attitudes influence their perceptions of media news coverage during the presidential election season.  

Paul M. Haridakis, Kent State University

Paul Haridakis (Ph.D., Kent State University) is Professor in the School of Communication Studies at Kent State University. Phone: (330) 672-0180Paul conducts research on media uses and effects, law, public policy, new communication technologies, sports communication, freedom of speech, and the history of communication studies. His recent work has focused on the role of YouTube and other social media in political campaigns and interpersonal communication, user-generated content, mediated interactivity, and First Amendment issues related to the regulation of content in various media such as the Internet and television. He teaches courses in Freedom of Speech; Media Use and Effects; Political Communication; Communication in an Information Society; Sports Communication; Media, War & Propaganda; Research Methods; and Communication Theory

Yan Bing Zhang, University of Kansas

Yan Bing Zhang (Ph.D., University of Kansas) is Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at University of Kansas. Phone: (785) 564-9678

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Published

2020-04-13

Issue

Vol. 14 (2020)

Section

Articles

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