Identifier

150

Date

2019

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Major

Political Science

Committee Member

Eric William Groenendyk

Abstract

Individuals participate in social sorting when they align their various social identities with their partisan identity. While there exists significant research on the social sorting phenomenon, there is not much causal insight on the matter as it pertains to the American electorate. Where previous research correlates socio-economic status, geographical location, and generational replacement with social sorting, findings from this study indicate that social identity pressure to align gender and partisan identity in a 'correct' way causes weak partisans to participate in this phenomenon. Detecting social pressure as a cause of this phenomenon gives insight to why social sorting occurs an raises questions about platforms which exert these pressures. This finding also highlights the role of perceptions in partisan identification, which suggests subjective factors, rather than logical and policy based positions, play a significant role in the formation of partisan identity. Overall, this study enhances understandings of American political behavior.

Comments

Undergraduate Honor's Thesis

Library Comment

Honors thesis originally submitted to the Local University of Memphis Honor’s Thesis Repository.

Notes

Data is provided by the student.

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