Self-Interest and Civilians' Attitudes toward the Vietnam War
In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 42, Heft 4, S. 464-483
ISSN: 0033-362X
The possible consequences of self-interest on American PO were examined in the context of US military involvement in Vietnam, using the CPS 1968 American Nation Election Study as a data base. Civilians' (N = 3,100) personal connections to the war, in terms of their friends' & relatives' military service, did make them pay more attention to the war. Rather, the more important determinants of attitudes toward the war were symbolic attitudes toward various political symbols, eg, presidential candidates associated with the war. Finally, self-interest made very little difference in enhancing the consistency of partisan attitudes involved in the 1968 presidential decision. 4 Tables. AA.