Disagreement and the Avoidance of Political Discussion: Aggregate Relationships and Differences across Personality Traits

摘要: Social networks play a prominent role in the explanation of many political phenomena. Using data from nationally representative survey registered voters conducted around 2008 U.S. presidential election, we document three findings. First, show that during this period, people discussed politics as frequently (or more than) other topics such family, work, sports, and entertainment with frequent discussion partners. Second, frequency which topic is strongly positively associated reported agreement on among these same Supplementary experimental evidence suggests correlation arises because avoid discussing when they anticipate disagreement. Third, Big Five personality traits affect how discuss variety topics, including politics. Some also alter relationship between theoretically expected ways. This certain types are likely to be exposed divergent information, not everyone equally experience cross-cutting discourse, even heterogeneous networks.