People learn about politics only when something signals that things are wrong

Evidence

Experiments in cognitive psychology demonstrate that negative events increase attention and that emotional reactions are crucial to the stimulation of attention (Derryberry, 1991; Pratto & John, 1991). Thus, current work in psychology and in neurophysiology supports a theoretical view about how people come to learn about politics: they abandon complacency and start to pay attention when the world signals that something is not right. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1668 (#expands, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: People learn about politics only when negative events disrupt complacency and trigger attention. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1668

Broader Connections

• People learn about politics only when negative events disrupt complacency and trigger attention. #expands (1.00) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 1668