Structure and Consistency in Public Opinion: the Role of Core Beliefs and Values
1988/05/01 by Stanley Feldman · 1,093 citations
Business, Management and Accounting · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Consistency (knowledge bases) #Core (optical fiber) #Culture, Economy, and Development Studies #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Ideology #Individualism #Law #Political Influence and Corporate Strategies #Political science #Politics #Psychology #Public opinion #Public relations #Social psychology #Social science #Sociology #Sophistication #Structuring
paper · doi:10.2307/2111130
published in American Journal of Political Science 32(2), 416 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 1988/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Abstract
Research in public opinion and mass belief systems has provided numerous insights into the organization of political attitudes and beliefs and levels of political sophistication in the public. However, having found that most people do not structure their beliefs ideologically, this literature is of limited usefulness in understanding how people do form their political attitudes and beliefs. Another large body of literature suggests that specific attitudes and beliefs are in part a reflection of people's core beliefs and values. This paper examines the role of three core beliefs-support for equality of opportunity, economic individualism, and the free enterprise system-in structuring political beliefs and evaluations.
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