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Disrespectful Democracy: The Psychology of Political Incivility
Contributor(s): Sydnor, Emily (Author)
ISBN: 0231189257     ISBN-13: 9780231189255
Publisher: Columbia University Press
OUR PRICE:   $29.70  
Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats
Published: October 2019
Qty:
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Political Science | Political Process - Media & Internet
- Psychology | Emotions
- Social Science | Anthropology - Cultural & Social
Dewey: 306.209
LCCN: 2019021844
Physical Information: 0.8" H x 5.9" W x 8.9" (0.80 lbs) 256 pages
 
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Publisher Description:
The majority of Americans think that politics has an "incivility problem" and that this problem is only getting worse. Research demonstrates that negativity and rudeness in politics have been increasing for decades. But how does this tide of impolite-to-outrageous language affect our reactions to media coverage and our political behavior?

Disrespectful Democracy offers a new account of the relationship between incivility and political behavior based on a key individual predisposition--conflict orientation. Individuals experience conflict in different ways; some enjoy arguments while others are uncomfortable and avoid confrontation. Drawing on a range of original surveys and experiments, Emily Sydnor contends that the rise of incivility in political media has transformed political involvement. Citizens now need to be able to tolerate or even welcome incivility in the public sphere in order to participate in the democratic process. Yet individuals who are turned off by incivility are not brought back in by civil presentation of issues. Sydnor considers the challenges in evaluating incivility's normative benefits and harms to the political system: despite some detrimental aspects, certain levels of incivility in certain venues can promote political engagement, and confrontational behavior can be a vital tool in the citizen's democratic arsenal. A rigorous and empirically informed analysis of political rhetoric and behavior, Disrespectful Democracy also proposes strategies to engage citizens across the range of conflict orientations.

Contributor Bio(s): Sydnor, Emily: - Emily Sydnor (PhD, UVA) is visiting assistant professor at Southwestern University. Her dissertation, Fighting Words and Fiery Tone: The Interaction of Political Incivility and Psychological Conflict Orientation won the APSA Political Communication section's dissertation award in 2016.