In recent years, the political environment seems overwhelmed with two
phenomena: “fake news” and negative campaigning. While few would agree
that fake news is a legitimate part of campaigning, it is hard to stop
because we won’t stop looking at it. We’re attracted to negativity as
well, but perversely, negative campaigns may actually be valuable to
voters.
During this talk, Professor David P. Redlawsk will
explore insights from political psychology research that help explain
why both phenomena are ubiquitous and unlikely to end any time soon.
This
lecture is in conjunction with the exhibition The Trail to the Voting
Booth: The Evolution of Political Campaigns and Ephemera, which will be
available online during Fall 2020 and on view in the Special Collections
Gallery in Morris Library during Spring 2021.
David P. Redlawsk
is the James R. Soles Professor and the chair of the Department of
Political Science and International Relations at the University of
Delaware. He is the author or editor of nine books, and has published
more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters. His research
focuses on campaigns, elections, the role of information in voter
decision making, and on emotional responses to campaign information.