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Attitudes in Public Discourse

Speakers' Own Orientations

Utrecht University, the Netherlands

Attitudes are one of the central social psychological topics. They are predominantly studied as individual specific predispositions that determine evaluative reactions to particular objects. Following the work of discursive psychologists, the present study critically examines some core assumptions of attitude theory. The focus is on constructions in public discourse rather than individuals' isolated evaluations of objects in the world. A close-to-the-action analysis of a public discussion about a controversial "erotic" fair is presented, and the definitions and practices of the participants themselves are used as the main ground for determining meaning. It is shown that the participants constructed specific versions of the fair and of themselves in providing a justificatory account of their assessment. Furthermore, it is shown that specific definitions of the attitude object make specific kinds of arguments available.

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