Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Political Behavior 3/2022

11.11.2020 | Original Paper

Modulating the Neural Bases of Political Communications: Political Involvement and Perception of the Economic Situation

verfasst von: Luis-Alberto Casado-Aranda, Juan Sánchez-Fernández, Teodoro Luque-Martínez

Erschienen in: Political Behavior | Ausgabe 3/2022

Einloggen

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche, um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

Worldwide political parties devote more than half of their budgets to communication campaigns. Yet research on political behavior is not unanimous as to the effect of political campaign communications on the electorate. Certain studies interpret the discrepancy by indicating that individual characteristics may modulate the way citizens perceive political campaigns. The current study is the first to resort to neuroimaging (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, fMRI) to explore to what extent two characteristics of the electorate, namely level of political involvement and perception of the economic context, affect the neural processing when exposed to political messages, notably corruption and positive practices. The data reveals that more politically sophisticated citizens experience greater activation of the brain regions linked to aversion and negative processing while viewing messages exposing corruption. Their reward circuit is not, moreover, activated more strongly when exposed to positive political actions. Interestingly, citizens with a better perception of the economic situation reveal stronger activation while exposed to positive political messages in brain regions linked to self-relevance and rewarding properties. The current analysis therefore represents the first neuroimaging study to reveal the psychological mechanisms by which individual characteristics of the electorate affect the processing of political communications.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Anhänge
Nur mit Berechtigung zugänglich
Fußnoten
1
Data, subjects’ characteristics, onsets and steps for fMRI data analysis for the production of the analysis in this paper are available at https://​hdl.​handle.​net/​10481/​63114.
 
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211.CrossRef Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Anduiza, E., Gallego, A., & Muñoz, J. (2013). Turning a blind eye: Experimental evidence of partisan bias in attitudes toward corruption. Comparative Political Studies, 46(12), 1664–1692.CrossRef Anduiza, E., Gallego, A., & Muñoz, J. (2013). Turning a blind eye: Experimental evidence of partisan bias in attitudes toward corruption. Comparative Political Studies, 46(12), 1664–1692.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Casado-Aranda, Venkatraman, V., Sánchez-Fernández, & Luque-Martínez. (2019). Does partisan bias modulate neural processing of political information? An analysis of the neural correlates of corruption and positive messages. Political Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1111/pops.12581CrossRef Casado-Aranda, Venkatraman, V., Sánchez-Fernández, & Luque-Martínez. (2019). Does partisan bias modulate neural processing of political information? An analysis of the neural correlates of corruption and positive messages. Political Psychology. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1111/​pops.​12581CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Choi, S. (2014). Flow, diversity, form, and influence of political talk in social-media-based public forums. Human Communication Research, 40(2), 209–237.CrossRef Choi, S. (2014). Flow, diversity, form, and influence of political talk in social-media-based public forums. Human Communication Research, 40(2), 209–237.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Chung, S., & Sparks, J. V. (2015). Motivated processing of peripheral advertising information in video games. Communication Research, 43(4), 518–541.CrossRef Chung, S., & Sparks, J. V. (2015). Motivated processing of peripheral advertising information in video games. Communication Research, 43(4), 518–541.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Cunningham, W. A., Johnson, M. K., Raye, C. L., Gatenby, J. C., Gore, J. C., & Banaji, M. R. (2004). Separable neural components in the processing of black and white faces. Psychological Science, 15(12), 806–813.CrossRef Cunningham, W. A., Johnson, M. K., Raye, C. L., Gatenby, J. C., Gore, J. C., & Banaji, M. R. (2004). Separable neural components in the processing of black and white faces. Psychological Science, 15(12), 806–813.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Cunningham, W. A., Raye, C. L., & Johnson, M. K. (2005). Neural correlates of evaluation associated with promotion and prevention regulatory focus. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 5(2), 202–211.CrossRef Cunningham, W. A., Raye, C. L., & Johnson, M. K. (2005). Neural correlates of evaluation associated with promotion and prevention regulatory focus. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience, 5(2), 202–211.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat De Vries, C. E., & Solaz, H. (2017). The electoral consequences of corruption. Annual Review of Political Science, 20, 391–408.CrossRef De Vries, C. E., & Solaz, H. (2017). The electoral consequences of corruption. Annual Review of Political Science, 20, 391–408.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Dimoka, A. (2010). What does the brain tell us about trust and distrust? Evidence from a functional neuroimaging study. MIS Quarterly, 2(34), 373–396.CrossRef Dimoka, A. (2010). What does the brain tell us about trust and distrust? Evidence from a functional neuroimaging study. MIS Quarterly, 2(34), 373–396.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Dimoka, A. (2012). How to conduct a functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) study in social science research. MIS Quarterly, 36(3), 811–840.CrossRef Dimoka, A. (2012). How to conduct a functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) study in social science research. MIS Quarterly, 36(3), 811–840.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Fiddick. (2011). There is more than the amygdala: Potential threat assessment in the cingulate cortex. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 35(4), 1007–1018.CrossRef Fiddick. (2011). There is more than the amygdala: Potential threat assessment in the cingulate cortex. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 35(4), 1007–1018.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Fu, H., Mou, Y., Miller, M. J., & Jalette, G. (2011). Reconsidering political cynicism and political involvement: A test of antecedents. American Communication Journal, 13(2), 44–61. Fu, H., Mou, Y., Miller, M. J., & Jalette, G. (2011). Reconsidering political cynicism and political involvement: A test of antecedents. American Communication Journal, 13(2), 44–61.
Zurück zum Zitat Funk, C. L. (1996). The impact of scandal on candidate evaluations: An experimental test of the role of candidate traits. Political Behavior, 18(1), 1–24.CrossRef Funk, C. L. (1996). The impact of scandal on candidate evaluations: An experimental test of the role of candidate traits. Political Behavior, 18(1), 1–24.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Herold, D., Spengler, S., Sajonz, B., Usnich, T., & Bermpohl, F. (2016). Common and distinct networks for self-referential and social stimulus processing in the human brain. Brain Structure and Function, 221(7), 3475–3485.CrossRef Herold, D., Spengler, S., Sajonz, B., Usnich, T., & Bermpohl, F. (2016). Common and distinct networks for self-referential and social stimulus processing in the human brain. Brain Structure and Function, 221(7), 3475–3485.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Mahmoud, A. B., Grigoriou, N., Reisel, W. D., & Hack-Polay, D. (2020). Effects of wartime crisis perceptions on the effectiveness of political advertising: The moderating role of political involvement. In Developments in marketing science-proceedings of the academy of marketing science. Cham: Springer. Mahmoud, A. B., Grigoriou, N., Reisel, W. D., & Hack-Polay, D. (2020). Effects of wartime crisis perceptions on the effectiveness of political advertising: The moderating role of political involvement. In Developments in marketing science-proceedings of the academy of marketing science. Cham: Springer.
Zurück zum Zitat Mattes, K., & Redlawsk, D. P. (2015). The positive case for negative campaigning. University of Chicago Press. Mattes, K., & Redlawsk, D. P. (2015). The positive case for negative campaigning. University of Chicago Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Riedl, R., Hubert, M., & Kenning, P. (2010). Are there neural gender differences in online trust? An fMRI study on the perceived trustworthiness of eBay offers. MIS Quarterly, 34(2), 397–428.CrossRef Riedl, R., Hubert, M., & Kenning, P. (2010). Are there neural gender differences in online trust? An fMRI study on the perceived trustworthiness of eBay offers. MIS Quarterly, 34(2), 397–428.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Segerdahl, A. R., Mezue, M., Okell, T. W., Farrar, J. T., & Tracey, I. (2015). The dorsal posterior insula subserves a fundamental role in human pain. Nature Neuroscience, 18(4), 499–500.CrossRef Segerdahl, A. R., Mezue, M., Okell, T. W., Farrar, J. T., & Tracey, I. (2015). The dorsal posterior insula subserves a fundamental role in human pain. Nature Neuroscience, 18(4), 499–500.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Westen, D., Blagov, P. S., Harenski, K., Kilts, C., & Hamann, S. (2006). Neural bases of motivated reasoning: An fMRI study of emotional constraints on partisan political judgment in the 2004 US presidential election. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 18(11), 1947–1958.CrossRef Westen, D., Blagov, P. S., Harenski, K., Kilts, C., & Hamann, S. (2006). Neural bases of motivated reasoning: An fMRI study of emotional constraints on partisan political judgment in the 2004 US presidential election. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 18(11), 1947–1958.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Wicker, B., Keysers, C., Plailly, J., Royet, J.-P., Gallese, V., & Rizzolatti, G. (2003). Both of us disgusted in My insula: The common neural basis of seeing and feeling disgust. Neuron, 40(3), 655–664.CrossRef Wicker, B., Keysers, C., Plailly, J., Royet, J.-P., Gallese, V., & Rizzolatti, G. (2003). Both of us disgusted in My insula: The common neural basis of seeing and feeling disgust. Neuron, 40(3), 655–664.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Zaichkowsky, J. L. (1986). Conceptualizing involvement. Journal of Advertising, 15(2), 4–34.CrossRef Zaichkowsky, J. L. (1986). Conceptualizing involvement. Journal of Advertising, 15(2), 4–34.CrossRef
Metadaten
Titel
Modulating the Neural Bases of Political Communications: Political Involvement and Perception of the Economic Situation
verfasst von
Luis-Alberto Casado-Aranda
Juan Sánchez-Fernández
Teodoro Luque-Martínez
Publikationsdatum
11.11.2020
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Political Behavior / Ausgabe 3/2022
Print ISSN: 0190-9320
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-6687
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11109-020-09657-8

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 3/2022

Political Behavior 3/2022 Zur Ausgabe

Premium Partner