What kind of image do we What kind of image do we create of those involved in create of those involved in politics?politics?

Nóra Orsolya Balázs

Eötvös Loránd University

Budapest

HUNGARY

Nóra Lantos

Eötvös Loránd University

Budapest

HUNGARY

Stereotypes of the left and the right in three different contexts

18th July 2013.

POLITICAL HISTORYPOLITICAL HISTORY

1989. october 23. – End of soviet regime

Post-communist heritage◦ Depoliticized citizens◦ Political participation is limited to the elections◦ Being politically active has no attraction, prestige or

utility

Hungary is still learning democratic functioning

ACTUAL POLITICS IN HUNGARYACTUAL POLITICS IN HUNGARY

Present government: Fidesz President: Viktor Orbán

Robust shift to the political right

RESEARCH QUESTIONSRESEARCH QUESTIONS

2 main focus: the structure and the content of the stereotypes

What dimensions do we use when we adjudge those who are connected to the political left-wing or the political right-wing?

What stereotypes do leftists and rightst have of the ingroup and the outgroup? (auto-stereotypes and stereotypes)

Person-positivity bias (Sears, 1983)

A person connected to a political side is perceived more favorably compared to the party or the group one belongs to.

Motivated social cognition

Conservatives: prefer safety, structure and order → tend to be closed-minded

Liberals: prefer freedom, ambiguity → tend to be open-minded

Research evidence (mostly in Western countries) (Jost, 1999; Chirumbolo, 2002; Kruglanski, 2004; Caprara et al., 2006 Calogero, 2009; Caprara et al., 2006)

Critics (Greenberg & Jonas, 2003)

THEORETICAL BASISTHEORETICAL BASIS

Previous research: Stereotypes of the Previous research: Stereotypes of the voters of Fidesz and MSZPvoters of Fidesz and MSZP(Krekó & Hunyady, 2006)(Krekó & Hunyady, 2006)

Similar methods and backgroundStereotypes

Natural part of lay epistemics Left and Right are considered as

antagonistic parties

Relevance in 2013

METHODSMETHODS Paper-and-pencil testing 3 different questionnaires – 3 different contexts

◦ Person they know

◦ Fictitious person

◦ Well-known person

Evaluate them on a 6 point Likert-scale Personality trait pairs according to personality, cognitive

theories

„Please evaluate this person along the personality trait pairs listed below!”ACTIVE 3 2 1 1 2 3 PASSIVE

FRIENDLY 3 2 1 1 2 3 UNFRIENDLY

LIBERAL 3 3 1 1 2 3 CONSERVATIVE

………. 3 2 1 1 2 3 ……….

THE SAMPLE I.THE SAMPLE I. Adults, mostly university students and graduates (N =

449)

45% 55%

Heterogeneous by age 37 (st. d.=14)

finished education 50%+

township type 49%

THE SAMPLE II.THE SAMPLE II. „In politics we often talk

about left and right wing. On a scale of 1 to 7, where would you place yourself? (If 1 means political right and 7 means political left.)”

„Is there a party that is closer to you than the others? Which one is it?”

There isn’t any: 66%

RESULTS I.RESULTS I.Leftists about leftist well-known

person

Gordon Bajnai 32%

Attila Mesterházy 17%

Ferenc Gyurcsány 15%

Others: Critics from television!

Rightists about rightist well-known person

Viktor Orbán 45%

Gábor Vona10,5%

Others: rightist politicians!

Leftists about rightist well-known person

Viktor Orbán 34%

Gábor Vona 8,5%

Zsolt Semjén 5,1%

Rightists about leftist well-known person

Ferenc Gyurcsány 39%

Attila Mesterházy 13%

Gordon Bajnai 8%

RESULTS II.Factor analysis:

Personally known person is warmer, likeable than fictitious

more trustworthy, respectable and honest

Well-known person involved in politics:◦ Warmth◦ Competence◦ Open and closed mindedness

THEREFORE politicians are evaluated along several and more complex dimensions than civils

only leftists use this dimension

RESULTS III.1.RESULTS III.1.Stereotypes of the well-Stereotypes of the well-known leftists and rightists known leftists and rightists (politicians)(politicians)

In general: enjudgement of the ingroup is more detailed and positive compared to the outgroup

Similarities◦ Leftists are not religious◦ Rightists are conservative◦ Describe each other as arrogant◦ Leftists think rightists to be self-confident,

active and schooled (all in all: charismatic)

Differences◦ Rightists query the morality of leftists

(‘dishonest, unreliable, untruthful’- no positive features)

◦ Leftists mention ‘active, self-confident, radical, closed-minded, and socially indifferent’ → Refer to the misuse of power and competence

→ Actual political discourse◦ Open-closed-mindedness as a dimension is

only used by leftists

RESULTS III.2.RESULTS III.2.Stereotypes of the well-Stereotypes of the well-known leftists and rightists known leftists and rightists (politicians)(politicians)

DiscussionDiscussionNegative image of politicians-

Disappointment, depoliticization

Political person perception: new dimension: Open-Closed-Mindedness (but only by Leftists; Rightists: not relevant)

Image of leftist politicians is more diffuse◦ Being opposition◦ More fragmanted

Actual political discourse and common talk appears in strereotypes – Power of politicians in shaping common perceptions

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention!attention!