Media priming effects on presidential evaluation are uneven across trait dimensions

Evidence

Experiment 1 treated our two predictions unevenly. As Table 7.3 indicates, the first prediction is corroborated in two of three comparisons. Steady coverage of defense did strengthen the relationship between judgments of Carter’s defense performance and evaluations of his overall job performance, and between judgments of Carter’s defense performance and integrity, as predicted. However, the relationship reverses on judgments of Carter’s competence. And as for our second prediction, Experiment 1 provides only the faintest encouragement. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1477

Categorization

• QUESTION: Worth chasing: why would defense coverage strengthen the link between defense performance and integrity but reverse it on competence? A meaningful asymmetry.