To be as Palikot? Controversy as a dimension of politician’s perception Cover Image

Być jak Palikot? Kontrowersyjność jako wymiar spostrzegania polityka
To be as Palikot? Controversy as a dimension of politician’s perception

Author(s): Jarosław Piotrowski, Maciej Lbuda, Anna Szuster, Małgorzata Żejomtel-Piotrowska
Subject(s): Psychology
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar Sp. z o.o.
Keywords: controversy; politician image; electoral behavior

Summary/Abstract: The studies explored the impact of being a controversial politician on his/her perception and electoral chances. In three studies carried out on student samples we examined factors modifying this impact. In Study 1 (N = 120) both the politician’s and the voter’s political orientation was taken into account. In Study 2 (N = 137) the politician’s party identification was included. In Study 3 (N = 120) the politician’s gender was taken into account. Results revealed that being controversial decreased evaluation of a politician on the dimension of morality but did not influence the evaluation of competence. Controversiality of the politician was appreciated by left-wing voters and increased willingness to vote for the left-wing parties. Party identification of the controversial politician was unrelated to his/her evaluation. Controversiality influenced evaluation of a women politician only in a limited way, controversial women were perceived as more amiable and less moral but it did not influence her electoral chances.

  • Issue Year: VII/2012
  • Issue No: 20
  • Page Range: 71-88
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish