Title: The Disingenuously, Emotion Fueled Witch Hunt of the 21st Century
“The issue of abortion provides a good example of how the way the rightest U.S. news media
frame a political topic, causing emotions such as anger which can be assumed to have a relevant
impact on preferences regarding ‘pro-life’ policies; being detrimental and dangerous.”
The Role of Emotions in Political Communication
Statement: 4
Lecturer: Andreas Schuck
February 20, 2020
Word Count: 1,189
1
, “The issue of abortion provides a good example of how the way the rightest U.S. news
media frame a political topic, causing emotions such as anger which can be assumed to
have a relevant impact on preferences regarding ‘pro-life’ policies; being detrimental”
News outlets can be regarded as the primary informers of society, acquainting individuals
with complex societal and political issues. This clarification conducted by news media is done
through a variety of techniques including the infamous methods of framing and the utilization of
emotional appeals. One of the most notorious processes studied within media effects research:
framing, being the, “selection, silence distribution, and the specific exclusion or elaboration of
certain issues” (Schuck & Feinholdt, 2016) is remarkably argued to increase the comprehension
of readers through the curation of specific frames thought to be, “a central organizing idea that
suggests to a reader what the issue is and how one should come to understand it” (Brader, 2005).
Frames are blatantly liable and important in instigating specific emotions through the use of
emotive episodes characterized by their unique valence, arousal level, and post action tendencies
(Valentino, et al. 2011). Although framing is detected throughout media and the news, it does not
necessarily imply that it is objective nor necessarily accurate.
Abortion has been a topic of discussion since the 1970’s, long regarded as a political
issue that becomes ever more prominent on the media and public agenda during election
campaigns (Woodruff, 2019). Since 2011 to 2017, “states have enacted 401 abortion restrictions”
while, “58% of American women of reproductive age lived in a state considered either hostile or
2
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller daphnepanteli8. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $5.04. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
