TelevisionTelevisionFrom From

Social Social PsychologyPsychology

-to--to-

Nixon/JFK Nixon/JFK televised televised debatesdebatesMolly Mueller

Psychology of Psychology of FDRFDR Franklin D. Roosevelt did not receive the T.V Franklin D. Roosevelt did not receive the T.V

publicity that JFK or Nixon had, due to lack publicity that JFK or Nixon had, due to lack of technology. of technology.

FDR was always publicized in photographs, FDR was always publicized in photographs, and rarely had his picture taken in his and rarely had his picture taken in his wheelchair. wheelchair.

During FDR’s terms (1933-1945) the Great During FDR’s terms (1933-1945) the Great Depression was at it’s worst. Unemployment Depression was at it’s worst. Unemployment skyrocketing and people suffering with lack skyrocketing and people suffering with lack of housing and starvation. of housing and starvation.

FDR became sick with poliomyelitis, this FDR became sick with poliomyelitis, this paralyzed him waist and down. He never paralyzed him waist and down. He never regained the ability to walk. regained the ability to walk.

FDR was always fearful someone would see FDR was always fearful someone would see him in his wheelchair, he thought he needed him in his wheelchair, he thought he needed to be seen standing, a symbol of strength.to be seen standing, a symbol of strength.

Franklin Roosevelt with Ruthie Bie and Fala at Hilltop Cottage in Hyde Park. (1941). Franklin D. Roosevelt Library.

Psychology of Psychology of FDRFDR ->-> Nixon & Nixon & JFKJFK FDR even went the extra mile and would cleverly hide his disability FDR even went the extra mile and would cleverly hide his disability

at places such as the Waldorf Hotel, which had a secret railroad at places such as the Waldorf Hotel, which had a secret railroad track entrance, and an elevator to his suite or the lobby.track entrance, and an elevator to his suite or the lobby.

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As the election of 1960 approached, Nixon wanted to challenge As the election of 1960 approached, Nixon wanted to challenge Kennedy.Kennedy.

Nixon chose television as the form of Nixon chose television as the form of

medium. Nixon was extremely confident, medium. Nixon was extremely confident,

feeling as though he knew his material and feeling as though he knew his material and

could gain more supporters.could gain more supporters.

Weeks before the debate, Nixon was Weeks before the debate, Nixon was

healing from a knee injury in the hospital.healing from a knee injury in the hospital.Berryman, C. (1938). FDR. Washington Evening Star.

Psychology of Psychology of Nixon & JFKNixon & JFK Tuning into the debate, the contrast was apparent. Nixon pale, he had Tuning into the debate, the contrast was apparent. Nixon pale, he had

refused make up. It has been said he looked “Transparent.” refused make up. It has been said he looked “Transparent.” Kennedy known as JFK was well rested, and had been campaigning in Kennedy known as JFK was well rested, and had been campaigning in

California with his convertible top down, Nixon was stunned by his good California with his convertible top down, Nixon was stunned by his good health.health.

““But the 70 million who watched But the 70 million who watched television television saw a candidate still sickly saw a candidate still sickly and obviously and obviously discomforted by Kennedy's discomforted by Kennedy's

smooth smooth delivery and delivery and charisma. Those television charisma. Those television viewers viewers

focused on what they saw, not focused on what they saw, not what they what they heard. Studies of the audience heard. Studies of the audience indicated indicated that, among television viewers, that, among television viewers, Kennedy was perceived the winner of the Kennedy was perceived the winner of the

first debate by a very large margin”first debate by a very large margin”

<Allen, E. T. THE KENNEDY-NIXON PRESIDENTIAL <Allen, E. T. THE KENNEDY-NIXON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, 1960. Museum of Broadcast and Communications. Retrieved DEBATES, 1960. Museum of Broadcast and Communications. Retrieved

May 27, 2008, May 27, 2008, http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/K/htmlK/kennedy-nixon/kennedy-nixon.htmhttp://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/K/htmlK/kennedy-nixon/kennedy-nixon.htm

Bettmann/Corbis. (1960). Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy during one of their presidential debates in 1960. <http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://cache.eb.com/eb/image%3Fid%3D78214%26rendTypeId%3D4&imgrefurl=http://www.britannica.com/ebc/art-72199/Richard-M-Nixon-and-John-F&h=436&w=550&sz=19&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=WQUcr6kLWA61rM:&tbnh=105&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3DNixon%2Band%2BJFK%2Bdebate%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN>

It comes down to…It comes down to…

Mere exposure effect:Mere exposure effect: The idea that the more you see someone The idea that the more you see someone or something. The better the chance of you having more positive or something. The better the chance of you having more positive feelings towards that something or someone.feelings towards that something or someone.

ConsiderConsider: The fact that Kennedy and Nixon were both on T.V the : The fact that Kennedy and Nixon were both on T.V the elections were broadcasted with actual moving visuals. For those elections were broadcasted with actual moving visuals. For those who were states away, it was as though they were in the audience. who were states away, it was as though they were in the audience. The more the candidates made news, the more people would have The more the candidates made news, the more people would have the chance to see them. the chance to see them.

Persuasion:Persuasion: which originates from the source/communicator. which originates from the source/communicator. Important factors in an influence of a communicator to a they must Important factors in an influence of a communicator to a they must have have credibility, expertise, trustworthiness, powercredibility, expertise, trustworthiness, power. And In . And In most cases, most cases, attractivenessattractiveness plays a key role in influence. plays a key role in influence.

JFK appeared more comfortable and was very charismatic. Nixon appeared scrawny due to his severe 20 pound weight loss in the hospital. Television brought a new spectrum of physical appearance that would appeal to generations.

Groups of the young generation found JFK more appealing due to similarities such as a the fact he was a younger age.

Nixon. (1960). CBS News. <http://rigorousintuition.blogspot.com/2004_10_01_rigorousintuition_archive.html>

ConclusionConclusion

Televising debates has changed the nation socially on how they Televising debates has changed the nation socially on how they examine their candidates for office. How humans now turn to the examine their candidates for office. How humans now turn to the television to examine, how the search for similarity in candidates television to examine, how the search for similarity in candidates

and to feel as though they’re equal and care about their and to feel as though they’re equal and care about their supporters. supporters.

Ideally persuasion is a key player, and appearance is important to the Ideally persuasion is a key player, and appearance is important to the public. When they see someone as JFK who was fit and had a public. When they see someone as JFK who was fit and had a

healthy glow, it gave him appeal that he had more competency healthy glow, it gave him appeal that he had more competency and intelligence. Despite Nixon’s experience, Kennedy spoke with and intelligence. Despite Nixon’s experience, Kennedy spoke with

much ease on the televised debates. First impressions are key much ease on the televised debates. First impressions are key roles into determining he political party to choose. roles into determining he political party to choose.

One last factor is the audience who can be influenced depending on One last factor is the audience who can be influenced depending on age, gender and own beliefs of the audience. With appearance, age, gender and own beliefs of the audience. With appearance, credibility and other factors, a political candidates and change credibility and other factors, a political candidates and change

people’s views. If the cards are correctly played. people’s views. If the cards are correctly played.

BiblographyBiblographyFranklin Roosevelt with Ruthie Bie and Fala at Hilltop Cottage in Hyde Franklin Roosevelt with Ruthie Bie and Fala at Hilltop Cottage in Hyde Park. (1941). Franklin D. Park. (1941). Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. Roosevelt Library. <http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/thumbnail362.html><http://teachpol.tcnj.edu/amer_pol_hist/thumbnail362.html>

The Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC). THE KENNEDY-NIXON The Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC). THE KENNEDY-NIXON PRESIDENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, 1960. Retrieved May 27, 2008, fromDEBATES, 1960. Retrieved May 27, 2008, from

http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/K/htmlK/kennedy-nixon/kennedy-http://www.museum.tv/archives/etv/K/htmlK/kennedy-nixon/kennedy-nixon.htm nixon.htm

Dewey, R. A. Psych Web. Retrieved May 27, 2008, from Dewey, R. A. Psych Web. Retrieved May 27, 2008, from http://www.psywww.com/ http://www.psywww.com/

Brennan, J. Grand Central Terminal, Waldorf-Astoria platform. Abandoned Brennan, J. Grand Central Terminal, Waldorf-Astoria platform. Abandoned Stations. Retrieved May 27, 2008, from Stations. Retrieved May 27, 2008, from http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/gct61.html http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/abandoned/gct61.html