The Affective Foundation of Political Opinion Expression on Social Media: A Panel Analysis
- 13 July 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in International Journal of Public Opinion Research
- Vol. 33 (1), 57-75
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ijpor/edaa009
Abstract
Social media (SM) allow citizens to not only read news but also express their political opinions. Drawing from cognitive appraisal and affective intelligence theory, this study investigated the affective foundation of political opinion expression on social media (POESM) using two-wave panel data. The results indicate that enthusiasm and anger stimulated POESM but only for individuals with a minimum threshold motivation to use SM for political purposes. Among the politically motivated, anxiety increased POESM for individuals with low political knowledge but lessened POESM for ones with high political knowledge. Thus, emotional states can be powerful drivers of POESM. In contexts with low levels of POESM, emotions may stimulate online discussion as well as contribute to the further emotionalization of political debates.Keywords
Funding Information
- Center for Social and Health Innovation
- MCI Management Center Innsbruck
This publication has 47 references indexed in Scilit:
- Facebook Use and Political ParticipationSocial Science Computer Review, 2013
- Emotions, Campaigns, and Political ParticipationPolitical Research Quarterly, 2012
- Positive affect as informational feedback in goal pursuitMotivation and Emotion, 2011
- Election Night’s Alright for Fighting: The Role of Emotions in Political ParticipationThe Journal of Politics, 2011
- Is a Worried Citizen a Good Citizen? Emotions, Political Information Seeking, and Learning via the InternetPolitical Psychology, 2008
- How Messages Affect Their Senders: A More General Model of Message Effects and Implications for DeliberationCommunication Theory, 2007
- News vs. Entertainment: How Increasing Media Choice Widens Gaps in Political Knowledge and TurnoutAmerican Journal of Political Science, 2005
- The Consequences of Cross-Cutting Networks for Political ParticipationAmerican Journal of Political Science, 2002
- The Effects of Efficacy and Emotions on Campaign InvolvementThe Journal of Politics, 2000
- Appraisal, coping, health status, and psychological symptoms.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1986