The Journal of Politics

  • The Journal of Politics (2010), 72 : pp 630-645
  • Copyright © Southern Political Science Association 2010
  • DOI: 10.1017/S002238161000006X (About DOI)
  • Published online: 12 July 2010

Table of Contents - 2010 - Volume 72, Issue 03  

ARTICLES

Political Parties, Motivated Reasoning, and Issue Framing Effects

Rune Slothuusa1 and Claes H. de Vreesea2

a1 Aarhus University

a2 University of Amsterdam

Abstract

Issue framing is one of the most important means of elite influence on public opinion. However, we know almost nothing about how citizens respond to frames in what is possibly the most common situation in politics: when frames are sponsored by political parties. Linking theory on motivated reasoning with framing research, we argue not only that citizens should be more likely to follow a frame if it is promoted by “their” party; we expect such biases to be more pronounced on issues at the center of party conflicts and among the more politically aware. Two experiments embedded in a nationally representative survey support these arguments. Our findings revise current knowledge on framing, parties, and public opinion.

(Received January 02 2009)

(Accepted December 09 2009)

Footnotes

Rune Slothuus is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.

Claes H. de Vreese is Professor and Chair of Political Communication at University of Amsterdam, 1012 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

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