Title

Issues, Values, And Critical Moments - Did Johnson,Magic Transform Public-Opinion On Aids

Authors

Authors

P. H. Pollock

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Am. J. Polit. Sci.

Keywords

SYMBOLIC RACISM; POLITICS; Political Science

Abstract

By what process do changes occur in the way issues are perceived and evaluated by ordinary citizens? A number of scholarly accounts share this perspective: intense, value-laden communications, or ''critical moments,'' are of key importance in supplying people with symbolic frames for issues and, thus, in defining or redefining the value bases of issue conflict. Applying this perspective to the case of Earvin (''Magic'') Johnson's announcement that he had contracted the AIDS-causing virus-a critical moment in AIDS opinions fortuitously captured by interrupted time-series data-this analysis finds that heterosexual moral values define a new basis of polarization on AIDS-related policies among post-announcement respondents. Furthermore, an analysis of survey data obtained 10 months after ''Magic'' Johnson's disclosure reveals both persistence of the new value basis and erosion in the importance of moral evaluations of homosexuality, the ''old'' or established value that citizens have referenced in forming opinions about AIDS.

Journal Title

American Journal of Political Science

Volume

38

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-1994

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

426

Last Page

446

WOS Identifier

WOS:A1994NL01500007

ISSN

0092-5853

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