Transcript File Gov11Section11

Chapter 11, Part 1
Shaping Public Opinion
I. Public Opinion & where it
comes from
I. Public Opinion & where it
comes from
• What do you think about
• Abortion?
• Death Penalty?
• Taxes?
I. Public Opinion & where it
comes from
• What do you think about
• Abortion?
• Death Penalty?
• Taxes?
• Does your opinion shape public
policy?
I. Public Opinion & where it
comes from
• What do you think about
• Abortion?
• Death Penalty?
• Taxes?
• Does your opinion shape public
policy?
– The War in Iraq…has public opinion
shaped policy?
a. Opinions are like _________,
everyone has one.
a. Opinions are like _________,
everyone has one.
• Public opinion is the total of all the
opinions out there on an issue
a. Opinions are like _________,
everyone has one.
• Public opinion is the total of all the
opinions out there on an issue
• Influenced by many factors
a. Opinions are like _________,
everyone has one.
• Public opinion is the total of all the
opinions out there on an issue
• Influenced by many factors
– family; shared experiences
a. Opinions are like _________,
everyone has one.
• Public opinion is the total of all the
opinions out there on an issue
• Influenced by many factors
– family; shared experiences
– Other people; a we grow older,
workers, friends, etc
b. Information shapes public
opinion.
b. Information shapes public
opinion
• The Mass Media; all forms that
communicate and transmit
information to large groups of
people
b. Information shapes public
opinion
• The Mass Media; all forms that
communicate and transmit
information to large groups of
people
• Books, magazines, newspapers, Rush
Limbaugh, Fox News, Internet, etc
b. Information shapes public
opinion
• The Mass Media; all forms that
communicate and transmit
information to large groups of
people
• Books, magazines, newspapers, Rush
Limbaugh, Fox News, Internet, etc
• Good citizenship means you think
critically about what you read, etc.
c. Propaganda and public opinion
c. Propaganda and public opinion
• Propaganda ideas put fourth to
influence people
c. Propaganda and public opinion
• Propaganda ideas put fourth to
influence people
– May be the truth, may be a stretch of
the truth
c. Propaganda and public opinion
• Propaganda ideas put fourth to
influence people
– May be the truth, may be a stretch of
the truth
d. Hidden Propaganda
c. Propaganda and public opinion
• Propaganda ideas put fourth to
influence people
– May be the truth, may be a stretch of
the truth
d. Hidden Propaganda
– Used to fool people
c. Propaganda and public opinion
• Propaganda ideas put fourth to
influence people
– May be the truth, may be a stretch of
the truth
d. Hidden Propaganda
– Used to fool people
– sources kept a secret
– political advertisements
e. Open Propaganda
e. Open Propaganda
• More common here in the US
e. Open Propaganda
• More common here in the US
• Clearly trying to influence
e. Open Propaganda
• More common here in the US
• Clearly trying to influence
– “Vote for Hillary: She has our best
interest at heart!”
e. Open Propaganda
• More common here in the US
• Clearly trying to influence
– “Vote for Hillary: She has our best
interest at heart!”
– “Rudy in 2008! Proven leadership”
II. Propaganda Techniques
a. Testimonials
II. Propaganda Techniques
a. Testimonials
• Famous People, sports heroes
II. Propaganda Techniques
a. Testimonials
• Famous People, sports heroes
• Hollywood endorsement of John
Kerry
II. Propaganda Techniques
a. Testimonials
• Famous People, sports heroes
• Hollywood endorsement of John
Kerry
b. Bandwagon
II. Propaganda Techniques
a. Testimonials
• Famous People, sports heroes
• Hollywood endorsement of John
Kerry
b. Bandwagon
• Say something often enough, loud
enough, people will believe it
II. Propaganda Techniques
a. Testimonials
• Famous People, sports heroes
• Hollywood endorsement of John
Kerry
b. Bandwagon
• Say something often enough, loud
enough, people will believe it
• Everyone’s doing it, jump on board
c. Name calling
• used during campaigns
c. Name calling
• used during campaigns
– Reckless spending, tax scheme
c. Name calling
• used during campaigns
– Reckless spending, tax scheme
d. Glittering Generalities
c. Name calling
• used during campaigns
– Reckless spending, tax scheme
d. Glittering Generalities
• Using vague words or ideas
– Patriotism, freedom, liberty
e. Plain-folks appeal
e. Plain-folks appeal
• Showing themselves as just regular
people
e. Plain-folks appeal
• Showing themselves as just regular
people
– At home, working in the garage,
helping in the community
– Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan
e. Plain-folks appeal
• Showing themselves as just regular
people
– At home, working in the garage,
helping in the community
– Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan
f. Card Stacking
e. Plain-folks appeal
• Showing themselves as just regular
people
– At home, working in the garage,
helping in the community
– Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan
f. Card Stacking
• Facts that only support their
candidate
III. Measuring Public Opinion
• Public opinion polls
III. Measuring Public Opinion
• Public opinion polls
– to find out what people think
III. Measuring Public Opinion
• Public opinion polls
– to find out what people think
– Must use a sample that represents
the public
III. Measuring Public Opinion
• Public opinion polls
– to find out what people think
– Must use a sample that represents
the public
• Zogby, Nelson, CNN Poll, every news
outlet has their own poll
The End