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The Psychological Dynamics of Group-based Considerations on Partisanship: A Case Study of Christian Conservatives and Conflict in the Republican Party

McAdams, Erin Stamatia
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243376142

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Political Science.
Although party identification is generally long-lasting and stable, alterations to partisanship do occur. Because partisanship is a form of social identification, the social groups that comprise political parties serve as meaningful reference points for individuals. This study thus investigates the psychological dynamics underlying the ways in which group-based considerations shape partisanship to better understand the conditions under which individuals become disaffected with their own party – particularly to the extent that they potentially defect. Specifically, the project examines the conditions under which affect toward subgroups translates to affect toward the political party, thus shaping attitudes toward its presidential primary candidates, partisan identity and the strength of partisanship. The primary proposition of this study is that party images – or their perceptions of subgroup influence on the party – condition these effects, particularly for those who are not members of the subgroup in question. In other words, affective and cognitive reactions to these groups interact such that those who perceive that a negatively evaluated group is “taking over” the party should cause some partisans to weaken their attachments. This project utilizes the conflict occurring within the Republican Party’s coalition as the result of the mobilization of Christian conservatives into its base as a case study. Over past 30 years, the core of the Republican Party has altered substantially. Once dominated by economic conservatives, the GOP has experienced considerable growth in its Christian conservative constituency. Although this group’s financial and electoral support has provided many short-term gains for the party, some have questioned whether the inclusion of this group may have negative, long-term consequences for the party – as the increasing influence of Christian conservatives on the party may alienate the traditional core of the party and cause them to defect. Relying on data obtained from an original mail survey of registered voters in Franklin County, Ohio, during the 2008 presidential campaign, the project finds that the perception that Christian conservatives are too influential on the GOP does condition this relationship for non-evangelical Republicans’ partisan attitudes and feelings toward its presidential primary candidates. These perceptions of influence also directly shape the strength of their partisan identity and determine whether they weaken their partisanship over the course of the 2008 campaign.
Herbert Weisberg (Committee Chair)
Paul Allen Beck (Committee Member)
Kathleen McGraw (Committee Member)
221 p.
Political Science
partisanship; intra-party conflict; Christian conservatives; religion and politics

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • McAdams, E. S. (2009). The Psychological Dynamics of Group-based Considerations on Partisanship: A Case Study of Christian Conservatives and Conflict in the Republican Party [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243376142

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • McAdams, Erin. The Psychological Dynamics of Group-based Considerations on Partisanship: A Case Study of Christian Conservatives and Conflict in the Republican Party. 2009. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243376142.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • McAdams, Erin. "The Psychological Dynamics of Group-based Considerations on Partisanship: A Case Study of Christian Conservatives and Conflict in the Republican Party." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1243376142

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.