The role of personality in political talk and like-minded discussion
The role of personality in political talk and like-minded discussion
Author
Boulianne, Shelley
Koc-Michalska, Karolina
Faculty Advisor
Date
2021
Keywords
Big Five personality traits , political discussion , political talk , like-minded discussion , echo chamber
Abstract (summary)
Political discussion is a key mechanism for the development of reasoned opinions
and political knowledge, but online political discussion has been characterized as
uncivil, intolerant, and/or ideologically homogeneous, which is detrimental to this
development. In this paper, we examine the role of personality in various forms
of political talk—online and offline—as well as like-minded discussion. Based on a
2017 survey conducted in the United Kingdom, United States, and France, we
find that people who are open-minded and extraverted are more likely to engage
in political talk but less likely to engage in like-minded discussion. Individuals who
are older, less educated, introverted, and conscientious are more likely to find
themselves in like-minded discussions, both online and on social media. Like-minded
discussion is rare; personality, rather than ideology, predicts whether people engage
in this form of political talk in online and offline modes. Our findings challenge the
role of social media in the creation of like-minded discussion. Instead, we should
look to the role of individual attributes, such as personality traits, which create a
disposition that motivates the use of social media (and offline networks) to cultivate
like-minded discussion.
Publication Information
Boulianne, Shelley, and Karolina Koc-Michalska. 2021. "The Role of Personality in Political Talk and Like-Minded Discussion." The International Journal of Press/Politics. OnlineFirst, March 17. doi:10.1177/1940161221994096
DOI
Notes
Item Type
Article
Language
English
Rights
Attribution (CC BY)
