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Dan M. Kahan
Yale Law School
www.culturalcognition.net
Research Supported by: National Science Foundation, SES-0242106, -0621840 & -0922714 Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard University
Promoting Informed Civic Engagement: the Significance of the Cognitive Climate
National elections should be the occasion for informed public engagement with policy issues of the greatest consequence.
But they frequently aren’t.
Informed public engagement with any issue depends on the quality of the cognitive climate surrounding it.
Supporters of informed public engagement should use evidence-based initiatives to secure a favorable cognitive climate for issues of consequence.
Promoting Informed Civic Engagement
Premise:
Proposition:
Explanation:
Prescription:
2012: Two Ignored Issues of Consequence
2012: Two Ignored Issues of Consequence
National elections should be the occasion for informed public engagement with policy issues of the greatest consequence.
But they frequently aren’t.
Informed public engagement with any issue depends on the quality of the cognitive climate surrounding it.
Supporters of informed public engagement should use evidence-based initiatives to secure a favorable cognitive climate for issues of consequence.
Promoting Informed Civic Engagement
Premise:
Proposition:
Explanation:
Prescription:
Two Cognitive Environmental Problems
1. Cultural toxicity
2. Affective poverty
Two Cognitive Environmental Problems
1. Cultural toxicity
2. Affective poverty
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
Limits on out-of-state contributions
to congressional candidates
Require corporations receive
shareholder approval before
making contributions
Ban political action committees
overall
low pk
hi pk
Pct.
supp
ort
Public Support for Campaign Finance Reform
Interest in Campaign Finance Reform
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Economy/Jobs
Deficit
Health Care
Taxes
Size Govt
Terrorist Threat
Afghan War
Environment
Campaign Finance
Issue Importance Rank
0%5%
10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Low PK
Med PK
Hi PK
0%5%
10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%
1 to 7 8 or 9 10
Low PK
Med PK
Hi PK
Pct.
of s
ampl
e
Cultural Cognition & Campaign Finance Reform
Narrative Framing
National elections should be the occasion for informed public engagement with policy issues of the greatest consequence.
But they frequently aren’t.
Informed public engagement with any issue depends on the quality of the cognitive climate surrounding it.
Supporters of informed public engagement should use evidence-based initiatives to secure a favorable cognitive climate for issues of consequence.
Promoting Informed Civic Engagement
Premise:
Proposition:
Explanation:
Prescription:
Narrative Framing
Two Cognitive Environmental Problems
1. Cultural toxicity
2. Affective poverty
Uncontaminated Cognitive Environment
National elections should be the occasion for informed public engagement with policy issues of the greatest consequence.
But they frequently aren’t.
Informed public engagement with any issue depends on the quality of the cognitive climate surrounding it.
Supporters of informed public engagement should use evidence-based initiatives to secure a favorable cognitive climate for issues of consequence.
Promoting Informed Civic Engagement
Premise:
Proposition:
Explanation:
Prescription:
National elections should be the occasion for informed public engagement with policy issues of the greatest consequence.
But they frequently aren’t.
Informed public engagement with any issue depends on the quality of the cognitive climate surrounding it.
Supporters of informed public engagement should use evidence-based initiatives to secure a favorable cognitive climate for issues of consequence.
Promoting Informed Civic Engagement
Premise:
Proposition:
Explanation:
Prescription:
National elections should be the occasion for informed public engagement with policy issues of the greatest consequence.
But they frequently aren’t.
Informed public engagement with any issue depends on the quality of the cognitive climate surrounding it.
Supporters of informed public engagement should use evidence-based initiatives to secure a favorable cognitive climate for issues of consequence.
National elections should be the occasion for informed public engagement with policy issues of the greatest consequence.
But they frequently aren’t.
Informed public engagement with any issue depends on the quality of the cognitive climate surrounding it.
Supporters of informed public engagement should use evidence-based initiatives to secure a favorable cognitive climate for issues of consequence.And they should start NOW.
Promoting Informed Civic Engagement
Premise:
Proposition:
Explanation:
Prescription:
National elections should be the occasion for informed public engagement with policy issues of the greatest consequence.
But they frequently aren’t.
Informed public engagement with any issue depends on the quality of the cognitive climate surrounding it.
Supporters of informed public engagement should use evidence-based initiatives to secure a favorable cognitive climate for issues of consequence.
