Abstract
The “defensive effect” predicts that when people are confronted with uncivil disagreement—marred by name-calling, insults, or profanity—this ignites a negative emotional response that makes them more likely to speak out or get involved politically in an effort to “set the record straight” about the topic. In essence, the incivility mutes a natural drive to remain silent when confronted with views that oppose one’s own. This chapter theorizes this effect by proposing four underlying mechanisms that are necessary for it to occur. It also outlines specific hypotheses to test the effect. The defensive effect explains why people will sometimes speak out when confronted with nasty counter arguments, even though this may make them unpopular.
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Chen, G.M. (2017). Incivility and Speaking Out. In: Online Incivility and Public Debate. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56273-5_6
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