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Negativity bias: the impact of framing of immigration on welfare state support in Germany, Sweden and the UK

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 18:05 authored by Sabina Avdagic, Lee Savage
How does the framing of immigration influence support for the welfare state? Drawing on research from psychology, specifically the notion of negativity bias and the sequencing of negative and positive information, this article argues that negative immigration frames undermine welfare support, while positive frames have little or no effect. Individuals take less notice of positive frames, and the effect of such frames is further undermined by the previous exposure to negative frames, which tend to stick longer in people's minds. The findings, based on survey experiments on over 9,000 individuals in Germany, Sweden and the UK, show that negative framing of immigration has a strong and pervasive effect on support for welfare. The article also finds some evidence that this effect is further amplified for people who hold anti-immigrant and anti-welfare attitudes or feel economically insecure. The effect of positive framing is considerably weaker and does not strengthen welfare support in any of the three countries.

Funding

Does the framing of immigration affect individual support for redistribution?; G1941; BRITISH ACADEMY; SG161954

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

British Journal of Political Science

ISSN

0007-1234

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Volume

0

Page range

1-22

Department affiliated with

  • Politics Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Sussex European Institute Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2019-06-17

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2019-06-17

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2019-06-17

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