Document Type
Article
Abstract
In the United States, Republicans and Democrats are viewed as being intrinsically distinct in their moral convictions. More specifically, Republicans are generally viewed as the party which more frequently upholds and uses religious and moral rhetoric, particularly regarding sexual activity, while Democrats are generally thought to rely on more pragmatic and inclusive rhetoric. Previous explanations explore why these partisan stereotypes exist but fail to compare how these different rhetorical styles compare to the actual behavior exhibited by both parties’ members. By using measurements of how often individuals from both parties participate in sexual morally contentious activities, such as viewing pornography, cheating on a spouse, and engaging in premarital or casual sex, this research examines whether there is a significant difference in the private conduct of individuals across party lines. While Republicans are generally perceived as the morally superior party, I hypothesize that they engage in these morally contentious activities at similar rates to Democrats. These results have implications in political science by challenging the stereotype of moral superiority of Republicans by illustrating a gap that exists between their public rhetoric and private behavior. This existent gap implies that Republicans may care more about the perception of moral superiority rather than behaving as such. Second, these results illustrate similarities in human behavior regardless of party affiliation.
Publication Date
12-10-2024
Recommended Citation
Callecod, Elizabeth, "Rhetoric vs. Reality: A Study of Public Rhetoric and Private Behavior Across Party Lines" (2024). Bakerman Student Research Awards. 37.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/bakerman/37
Included in
American Politics Commons, Comparative Politics Commons, Political Theory Commons, Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons
