2005/10/03 by Mike Schmierbach, Michael Boyle, Douglas M. McLeod · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Psychology · #Social and Intergroup Psychology #Social Media and Politics #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Conversation #Civic engagement #Silence #Social capital #Social psychology #Social engagement #Psychology #Capital (architecture) #Political science #Sociology #Social science #Politics #History #Communication #Law #Art #Aesthetics
paper · doi:10.1207/s15327825mcs0804_3
openalex publication_date 2005/10/03 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
After September 11, 2001, many theorists saw indications of a surge in social capital, indicated by increased trust and civic engagement. This surge may have been linked to factors such as rally effects and the spiral of silence, as well as to behaviors like participation and conversation. This study analyzes panel data collected shortly after September 11 and again several months later. Predictors of civic attachment were very different from Wave 1 to Wave 2; for instance, traditional predictors of civic attachment, like participation and discussion, were significant only for the 2nd data collection. We argue that surges in attachment and other attitudes after September 11 were short-lived and distinct from standard patterns of social capital.