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Measuring Effects of Metaphor in a Dynamic Opinion Landscape
Paul H Thibodeau1, Lera Boroditsky2
1Department of Psychology, Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, United States of America.
Plos One
|July 29, 2015
Summary
Metaphors significantly shape public opinion on crime, influencing policy preferences. Research shows these figurative language tools continue to impact reasoning, underscoring the need for updated opinion analysis.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Linguistics
- Social Science
Background:
- Metaphors are prevalent in discourse, comprising 10-20% of natural conversation.
- Systematic metaphors are known to influence reasoning about complex issues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ongoing influence of crime metaphors on public opinion.
- To identify shifts in the opinion landscape regarding crime.
- To highlight the importance of current opinion norms in metaphor research.
Main Methods:
- Conducted three norming tasks to establish current perceptions.
- Performed two experiments to assess metaphor influence on reasoning.
- Analyzed shifts in opinion and the impact of metaphorical framing.
Main Results:
- Crime metaphors continue to exert a significant influence on public reasoning and opinion.
- Identified a notable shift in the overall opinion landscape concerning crime.
- Demonstrated that metaphorical framing affects policy preferences (e.g., 'crime beast' vs. 'crime virus').
Conclusions:
- Metaphorical framing remains a powerful factor in shaping public opinion on crime.
- Up-to-date opinion norms and carefully controlled research materials are crucial for accurate metaphor research.
- Understanding metaphor influence is key to addressing societal issues effectively.
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