Back to Search
Start Over
A Unified Theory of Value-Based Reasoning and U.S. Public Opinion.
- Source :
-
Political Behavior . Dec2016, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p977-997. 21p. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Public opinion research shows that American citizens utilize domain-specific political values to guide opinion formation in the key issue areas that comprise the American political agenda. One set of political values operates on economic welfare opinions, a different set of values applies to cultural issue positions, a third set shapes foreign policy preferences, and so on in other policy domains. Drawing on Shalom Schwartz's theory of basic human values, this paper argues that two socially focused values-self-transcendence and conservation-guide opinion formation across all major policy domains. By contrast, the personally focused values of self-enhancement and openness-to-change should play a more limited role in preference formation. These hypotheses are tested using data from a novel 2011 national survey and the 2012 General Social Survey. The statistical results affirm expectations. We show that self-transcendence and conservation values predict scores on symbolic ideology, economic conservatism, racial conservatism, cultural conservatism, civil liberties, and foreign policy opinions. Self-enhancement and openness-to-change values play a modest role in shaping preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01909320
- Volume :
- 38
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Political Behavior
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 119137971
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11109-016-9344-x