Listen, We Need to Talk
How to Change Attitudes about LGBT Rights
Melissa R Michelson author Brian F Harrison author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Oxford University Press Inc
Published:10th Jan '17
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£125.00(9780190654740)
American public opinion tends to be sticky. Although the news cycle might temporarily affect the public zeitgeist about abortion, the death penalty, or gun control, public support or opposition on these issues has remained remarkably constant over decades. But there are notable exceptions, particularly with regard to polarizing issues that highlight identity politics. Over the past three decades, public support for same-sex marriage has risen from scarcely more than a tenth to a majority of the population. Why have people's minds changed so dramatically on this issue, and why so quickly? Listen, We Need to Talk tests a theory that when prominent people representing particular interest groups voice support for a culturally contentious issue, they sway the opinions of others who identify with the same group, even if the interest group and the issue at hand have no obvious connection. In fact this book shows that the more the message counters prevailing beliefs or attitudes of a particular identity group, the more persuasive it is. While previous studies of political attitude change have looked at the effects of message priming (who delivers a message) on issues directly related to particular identity groups, this study is unique in that it looks at how identity priming affects attitudes and behaviors toward an issue that is not central or directly related to the targeted group. The authors prove their theory through a series of random experiments testing the positive effects of identity-based messaging regarding same-sex marriage among fans of professional sports, religious groups, and ethnoracial (Black and Latino) groups.
This fascinating, well-researched book includes helpful methodological discussions about theory of dissonant identity priming experiments and will greatly interest researchers and activists seeking to change attitudes about controversial social issues (e.g., transgender equality, marijuana legalization). * CHOICE *
This book, while covering a wide breadth of populations, experimental methodologies and technical jargon, is written in a way which is approachable for persons both in and out of academia. It provides highly detailed statistics, tables and appendices, while also covering necessary historical and background information concerning the fight for equal rights among LGBT persons ... This book is a timely and informative piece and a must-read for any and all interested in LGBT rights, marriage equality, identity-priming and attitudinal change. * Marina Costa, Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity *
ISBN: 9780190654757
Dimensions: 234mm x 155mm x 15mm
Weight: 363g
240 pages