Disenchantment with Political Information : Attitudes, Processes, and Effects

Abstract

This chapter investigates nefarious dynamics of the “demand” side of political communication, that is, the negative side of information processing at the individual level. It focuses on sets of mechanisms at the two “ends” of individual information processing: First, looking first at “downstream” effects, the chapter discusses recent and current research by ASCoR about the potentially nefarious effects of exposure to dark and delegitimising political information, e.g., in terms of depressed voter turnout and increased polarisation. Second, looking at “upstream” mechanisms, the chapter discusses evidence that important segments of the population have pre-existing negative attitudes towards political information itself. A final section opens up on the challenges, both theoretical and methodological, that our discipline is facing.