The presidential campaign of 2016 was one of the most bitter and divisive elections in American political history. How do the selective defense mechanisms explain the tendency of voters to intensely dislike one candidate while willingly overlooking shortcomings in the candidate they support?

What will be an ideal response?


Selective exposure explains the voters’ tendency to seek out information that confirms their
pre-existing beliefs. Selective perception would predict that voters will reinterpret what they hear
in a way that confirms their choice. This entails minimizing or dismissing information that is
damaging to their candidate while overvaluing information supporting their favorite candidate; in
short, reinterpreting data in a way that confirms their worst (or best) suspicions of a candidate.
Finally, selective recall indicates a tendency to “forget” gaffes and misconduct by their candidate
while clearly remembering negative information about the opposing candidate.

Communication & Mass Media

You might also like to view...

__________ is produced through communication.

A. Discipline B. Identity C. Both A & B D. Neither A nor B

Communication & Mass Media

All of the following are goals of research in preparation for a speech EXCEPT

A) to develop or strengthen your own expertise in the topic. B) to find evidence that supports your ideas. C) to make your ideas clear and understandable for your audience. D) to make your ideas pertinent to the audience. E) to organize your information.

Communication & Mass Media

What four steps should a speaker follow to move from his or her basic ideas to the production of the

outline? What will be an ideal response?

Communication & Mass Media

Internet privacy issues have become increasingly controversial in recent years. In 2004, a federal appeals court held that a company may search employees’ e-mail on the company server without violating the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. The case:

a) Fraser v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co.; b) Intel Corp. v. Hamidi; c) U.S. v. Microsoft Corp.; d) Cairns v. Franklin Mint; e) Lugosi v. Universal Pictures.

Communication & Mass Media