Anxiety, Enthusiasm, and the Vote

The Emotional Underpinnings of Learning and Involvement During Presidential Campaigns

Bibliographic Data

ID3344975
AuthorsGeorge E Marcus (Williams College), Michael B Mackuen, Michael Mackuen (University of Missouri–St. Louis)
Year1993
Volume87
Issue3
Pages672-685
Publication date1993-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Political Science Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-0554 • E-ISSN: 1537-5943
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/2938743
OpenAlexW2032533433
LanguageEN
Citations received370
References cited61

By incorporating emotionality, we propose to enrich information-processing models of citizens' behavior during election campaigns. We demonstrate that two distinct dynamic emotional responses play influential roles during election campaigns: anxiety and enthusiasm. Anxiety, responding to threat and novelty, stimulates attention toward the campaign and political learning and discourages reliance on habitual cues for voting. Enthusiasm powerfully influences candidate preferences and stimulates interest and involvement in the campaign. The findings support a theoretical perspective that regards cognitive and emotional processes as mutually engaged and mutually supportive rather than as antagonistic. We suggest that the democratic process may not be undermined by emotionality as is generally presupposed. Instead, we believe that people use emotions as tools for efficient information processing and thus enhance their abilities to engage in meaningful political deliberation

Anxiety · Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Deliberation · Democracy · Emotionality · Enthusiasm · Novelty · Perspective (graphical · Political science · Politics · Voting · Voting behavior · Computer Science · Media Influence and Health · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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