Publication details
Does moral reframing decrease political news avoidance? Facts, values and news avoidance in an eye-tracking study
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2024 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| Citation | |
| Description | The media and politicians play an important role in shaping public attitudes through the selection, processing and presentation of information. The way issues are portrayed in the media, political speeches, and campaign messages, can greatly influence public perception and willingness to receive information. With a growing emphasis on the role of emotions and values in shaping political discourse, it has become essential to investigate the impact of framing strategies on public opinion. This experimental study employs eye-tracking methodology to investigate the influence of reframing political issues in moral terms, as opposed to factual framing, on individuals' attention to political news. The reframing of political discourse through moral lenses has gained prominence in recent years, with scholars positing that such framing may elicit stronger emotional responses and shape individuals' perceptions of issues. In this research, we hypothesize that moral framing may not only affect attitudes but also influence the allocation of attention during information processing. By analyzing framing strategies applied to the issue of GMOs and immigration, we seek to reveal differences in the willingness to perceive narratives created using moral emotional appeals on the one hand, and factual accuracy and evidence on the other. Thus, by deciphering narrative patterns of attention, we seek to clarify the relative influence of factual information versus morally resonant values in shaping how individuals process and prioritize political content. The findings of this study hold implications for our understanding of the role of moral framing in shaping information processing and cognitive engagement with political content. |