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ABSTRACT
This study examined how relative hostile media perception (i.e. a perceived credibility gap between pro- and counter-attitudinal partisan media outlets) connects to affective polarization. Drawing on theoretical foundations of the corrective action and the self-effects of communication, we tested whether expressive political participation resulting from relative hostile media perceptions exacerbated affective polarization. Findings from a two-wave national survey indicated that relative hostile media perception predicted affective polarization, and this relationship was mediated by expressive political participation. This study supplements the traditional focus on news exposure with a perspective centered on audience perceptions about how partisan media contribute to affective polarization.
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
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Notes on contributors
Xia Zheng
Xia Zheng (Ph.D, Indiana University-Bloomington) is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication and Journalism, and Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. His research focuses on communication-related determinants of health and political behaviors. He is interested in developing communication-based interventions to positively change behaviors.
Shuhuan Zhou
Shuhuan Zhou (Ph.D., Communication University of China & the University of California, San Diego) is an Associate Professor in the School of New Media and Communication at Tianjin University. Her research interests include media effect and media policy.