November 9, 2006: Volume 68, Number 10

Votes and quotes: Bizer political research noted nationally

Assistant Professor of Psychology George Y. Bizer, who has conducted research in political psychology, was quoted in a Saturday, Nov. 4, Associated Press news article about negative campaigning. 

The article was published in the online and/or print versions of more than 100 newspapers, including the New York Times and Boston Globe. It also appeared on cnn.com and msnbc.com. 

In "Scientists track effects of negative ads," AP science writer Seth Borenstein explored the emotional and physical effects of negative political ads. In addition to Bizer, he interviewed UCLA Psychiatry Professor Dr. Marco Iacoboni, Stanford University Communications Professor Shanto Iyengar and Williams College Political Science Professor George Marcus.

The article notes mentions Bizer's published research showing that when people conceptualize their opinions negatively – when they think in terms of whom they oppose instead of whom they support – they are more difficult to persuade. He was quoted as saying, "Everyone says, ‘We hate them, they're terrible.'" But, he added, "They seem to work." 

According to reporter Borenstein, "the latest figures show that by nearly a 10-to-1 ratio, political parties are spending more money on negative ads than positive ones."

Bizer will be interviewed live on WAMC's Round Table program next Wednesday.

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