TY - JOUR
T1 - Character weakness, partisan bias, and presidential evaluation
T2 - Modifications and extensions
AU - Goren, Paul
PY - 2007/9
Y1 - 2007/9
N2 - In a recent article Goren (American Journal of Political Science, 46, 627-641, 2002) draws upon theories of negativity bias, partisan bias, and motivated reasoning to posit that the more strongly people identify with the opposition party of a presidential candidate, the more heavily they will rely on character weakness impressions to construct global candidate evaluations. This paper modifies the theoretical framework by positing that (1) partisans will judge opposition nominees most critically on the traits owned by the former's party and (2) partisan bias promotes negativity bias in the evaluation of incumbent presidents seeking reelection and incumbent vice presidents seeking the presidency. Analysis of data from the 2000 and 2004 NES surveys, along with a reconsideration of the results from the 1984 to 1996 period covered in the original piece, yields strong empirical support for these expectations.
AB - In a recent article Goren (American Journal of Political Science, 46, 627-641, 2002) draws upon theories of negativity bias, partisan bias, and motivated reasoning to posit that the more strongly people identify with the opposition party of a presidential candidate, the more heavily they will rely on character weakness impressions to construct global candidate evaluations. This paper modifies the theoretical framework by positing that (1) partisans will judge opposition nominees most critically on the traits owned by the former's party and (2) partisan bias promotes negativity bias in the evaluation of incumbent presidents seeking reelection and incumbent vice presidents seeking the presidency. Analysis of data from the 2000 and 2004 NES surveys, along with a reconsideration of the results from the 1984 to 1996 period covered in the original piece, yields strong empirical support for these expectations.
KW - Candidate evaluation
KW - Motivated reasoning
KW - Negativity bias
KW - Party identification
KW - Presidential character
KW - Trait ownership
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U2 - 10.1007/s11109-006-9019-0
DO - 10.1007/s11109-006-9019-0
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34547519196
SN - 0190-9320
VL - 29
SP - 305
EP - 325
JO - Political Behavior
JF - Political Behavior
IS - 3
ER -