Media Effects on Stereotypic Cognitions, Intergroup Affects, and Policy Opinions

• In Event: Emotions in Political Communication

Abstract

The present study investigates how frequency of exposure to favorable and unfavorable news portrayals of immigrants affect intergroup emotions, stereotypic beliefs, and policy opinions in a direct-democratic campaign on immigration. Based on data from a two-wave panel survey the study tests a policy reasoning chains model in which frequency of exposure to positive and negative news portrayals of ethnic minorities affect stereotypic cognitions and positive and negative intergroup emotions. Intergroup emotions and stereotypic cognitions are assumed to mediate the impact of valenced news stories on preference for a stricter immigration policy. The study found that exposure to negative news portrayals of immigrants increased negative intergroup emotions and stereotypic cognitions. Frequency of exposure to positive news depictions of immigrants only reduced stereotypic beliefs about immigrants, but did not affect intergroup emotions. Thus, negative intergroup emotions and stereotypic beliefs function as mediators of the effect of exposure to valenced news portrayals of immigrants on the preference for a harsher immigration policy in the referendum campaign.

Authors

• Christian Schemer, U of Mainz

• Rinaldo Kuehne, U of Amsterdam

• Fabian Ryffel, University of Zurich

• Werner Wirth, U of Zurich