The Role of Social Groups in Political Thinking

1988/01/01 by Pamela Johnston Conover · 319 citations
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Cognition #Computer science #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Gender Politics and Representation #Political science #Politics #Process (computing) #Psychology #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Social group #Social psychology #Social science #Sociology

paper · doi:10.1017/s0007123400004956

published in British Journal of Political Science 18(1), 51-76 (Cambridge University Press)

openalex publication_date 1988/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25

Abstract

This article outlines a cognitive-affective model of the role of social groups in political thinking. The model is based on the assumptions that people have stored information and emotional reactions to social groups, and that people are purposive in their thinking about social groups in the sense that they are interested in understanding what various groups have obtained and whether it is deserved. The process through which social groups influence political thinking varies significantly depending upon whether an individual identifies with the group in question. Generally, people are more inclined to feel sympathetic towards the groups to which they belong. These ideas are illustrated with an empirical analysis that focuses on women's issues and makes use of data collected in the 1984 National Election Study Pilot Study.

Citations

• The Norm of Reciprocity: A Preliminary Statement

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