Ambivalence, Politics and Public Policy [Hardcover]

Exploring the extent and nature of attitudinal ambivalence on public policy issue, these essays by distinguished scholars of public opinion examine citizens' conflicting attitudes about abortion, gay rights, environmental protection and property rights, crime and the police and church-state relations. Linking ambivalence with a complex structure of belief, the contributors link the effects of ambivalence on information processing, the formation of policy preferences, and the impact of those policy preferences on voters' decisons. Using multiple approaches to measurement and research design, this volume helps build a sturdy foundation of knowledge about the phonomenon of ambivalence and its effects on politics. The concluding chapter provides an overview of our progress in understanding the effects of ambivalence on public opinion.Introduction; M.D.Martinez & S.C.Craig Group Ambivalence and Electoral Decision-Making; H.Lavine & M.Steenbergen Ambivalence and Attitude Change in Vote Choice: Do Campaign Switchers Experience Internal Conflict?; P.Fournier What Happens When We Simultaneously Want OppositeThings?: Ambivalence about Social Welfare; J.Gainous & M.D.Martinez The Nature and Consequences of Ambivalence: Abortion and Gay Rights; M.D.Martinez, S.C.Craig, J.G.Kane & J.Gainous Education, Ideology, and Racial Ambivalence: Conflict Reduction or Conflict Amplification?; C.M.Federico Managing Voter Ambivalence in Growth and Conservation Campaigns; D.Chong & Y.Wolinsky-Nhmias Ambivalence and Attitudes toward Church-State Relations; T.G.Jelen Attitudinal Ambivalence and Political Opinion: Review and Avenues for Further Research; C.J.Armitage & M.Conner

Ambivalence is a central feature of Americans' reactions to much of contemporary politics here and abroad. This wonderful book highlights terrific new work that gives us many valuable insights into the nature, causes, and consequences of ambivalence in politics, while at the same time makinl,