PSY FPX 7520 Assessment 2 Minimizing Social Influence in Debates

Student Name

Capella University

PSY FPX 7520 Social Psychology

Prof. Name:

Date

Objectives

As a political advisor for the League of Women, my responsibility is to develop guidelines for conducting impartial and equitable public town hall debates. This task is challenging due to the substantial impact of both social media and mainstream media on public perceptions, which play a critical role in shaping opinions and beliefs. It is essential to understand the psychological dynamics and effects at play in this context. Social psychology examines how individuals behave in social environments and how they perceive and respond to others (Van Lange, Kruglanski, & Higgins, 2012). Our social perceptions influence how we interpret events and formulate our responses (Van Lange et al., 2012).

To mitigate the influence of social and media factors, political consultants must critically evaluate the questions posed by the media, ensure that moderators provide equal time to all candidates, and guarantee fair and meaningful questioning by mediators. The behavior of the moderator significantly impacts the outcomes of debates, with the framing and management of questions being particularly crucial. Moderators’ motivations often center around audience engagement, personal gain, or sensationalism, rather than focusing on substantive issues (Turcotte, 2014). Despite the introduction of the town hall format by the Commission on Presidential Debates in 1992, the media continues to exert influence over the questions asked (Turcotte, 2014). However, the town hall format generally aims to reduce conflict, prioritizing public inquiries about candidates’ plans and proposals (Turcotte, 2014).

Final Deliverable

Town hall-style meetings provide a platform for more transparent and impartial debates, with the audience primarily guiding the discussion, thereby minimizing the influence of the moderator.

Risks

Moderator bias affecting audience perceptions.
Difficulties in accommodating questions from a large audience.
Potential disruptions from unruly audience members.
Inappropriate or off-topic questions from the audience.

Project Budget / Spending Estimate

No specific budget is proposed for this initiative, which seeks to enhance debate formats and reduce the impact of social influences without incurring additional costs.

Research-based Guidelines for Fair Public Debates and Media Coverage

To ensure fairness in public town hall meetings, it is crucial to recognize the influence of social and media dynamics. Social media platforms act as real-time venues for political discourse, often shaping initial reactions as significantly as the debates themselves (Pfeiffer, 2015). The League of Women Voters (2016) underscores the importance of pre-debate preparation, careful observation during the debate, and thoughtful reflection afterward. Turcotte (2014) notes that town hall-style debates emphasize substantive policy discussions over entertainment, contrasting with traditional formats. Rooy, Wood, & Tran (2016) highlight how social comparisons can influence group dynamics, shaping individual attitudes and behaviors.

Guidelines for Fair Public Debate

Based on Festinger’s Social Comparison Model (Van Lange et al., 2012), these guidelines stress the importance of unbiased moderation, minimizing moderator influence, and fostering an environment conducive to substantive discussion. Non-verbal cues, such as body language, can subtly influence audience perceptions (CNN, 2012). In a town hall setting, audience engagement can encourage candidates to concentrate on relevant issues and avoid confrontational rhetoric. Moderators must ensure fairness, manage audience participation, and select neutral venues to maintain the integrity of the debate.

References

CNN. (2012). Decoding body language from the final debate [Transcript]. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2012/10/24/ac-bts-body-language-expert-final-debate.

League of Women Voters. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.lwv.org.

Pfeiffer, D. (2015). How social media is revolutionizing debates. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/15/opinions/pfeiffer-social-media-debates/index.html.

Rooy, D., Wood, I., & Tran, E. (2016). Modeling the emergence of shared attitudes from group dynamics using an agent-based model of social comparison theory. System Research & Behavioral Science, 33, 188-204.

Turcotte, J. (2014). The news norms and values of presidential debate agendas: An analysis of format and moderator influence on question content. Mass Communication and Society, 18(3), 1-20.