Selective exposure: Voter information preferences and the Watergate affair

• Published in: Journal of personality and social psychology 1984-06, Vol.46 (6), p.1208-1221
• Main Authors: Sweeney, Paul D, Gruber, Kathy L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Behavior. Attitude; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human; Information; Political Attitudes; Preferences; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social psychology; Theories
• ISSN: 0022-3514; 1939-1315
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-3514.46.6.1208

A survey of political preferences and attitudes conducted during the US Senate Watergate hearings of 1973 was used to examine hypotheses developed from selective exposure theory. Three groups of voters ( N  = 82)--Richard Nixon supporters, George McGovern supporters, and undecideds--participated in a 3-wave panel survey conducted (a) just before the Watergate hearings started, (b) midway through the hearings, and (c) just before the end of the hearings. Responses that reflected interest in and attention to Watergate-related matters gave support to both the selective approach and avoidance components of the selective exposure hypothesis: The Nixon supporters reported less interest in and attention paid to Watergate-related matters than did members of the other groups. Responses to questions that probed for general knowledge about Watergate committee matters complemented the selective exposure analyses: Nixon supporters appeared to know less about the committee proceedings than the undecideds or McGovern supporters. Analyses of behavioral intentions and evaluations of the attitude object illustrated the importance of studying selective exposure effects. (30 ref)