Be sure to answer all five questions listed fully. I have included the assignmen

Question

Be sure to answer all five questions listed fully. I have included the assignment instructions below.

Exercise 11.15. During the 2012 presidential election, some political action committees sought increased voter participation by sending eligible voters mailings indicating whether or not they voted in previous elections as well as whether or not their neighbors did. Although the mailings did not reveal how the neighbors voted, people receiving them reported feeling pressure to vote in the upcoming election because their past voting behaviors had become public knowledge.

Researchers have conducted studies on the psychology of social influence and found that when voters were held publicly accountable, the likelihood of them voting in the next election increased. Some considered this a form of modern-day shaming; others dismissed it as harmless peer influence.

1. How do you feel about having your voting record mailed to your neighbors?

2. How do you feel about public accountability in other situations?

3. Can you think of a business that uses public accountability to sell its products or services? If so, what language do they use in their advertisements? Do you think it is effective? Do you think it is ethical?

4. Can you think of a way a specific charitable organization might use public accountability as a persuasive strategy? What might be some of the drawbacks of this strategy? Benefits?

5. How would you feel about your electric company sharing your electricity usage with your neighbors? Would such an action cause you to use less electricity?

Explanation / Answer

1. in America, our voting record is public which means that anyone can see whether or not we voted. However, our choice for a particular party or candidate is kept confidential and it is only known to us. Given that suffrage is not a right but also a responsibility in a democratic system, it is my personal opinion that information about if and when I voted in the past can be shared with my neighbours as it can help to increase my accountability to the political affairs within the regional community and increase the social influence of others whom I relate to over my own subsequent voting behaviour .

In the area of behavioral science, it is found that rational self-interest such as the campaigns around increasing the citizens awareness about their moral responsibility to vote, is less effective in ensuring greater voter turnout in the elections. Rather, voters can be led to feel motivated to vote if they are conscious of having their lack of political participation known to other people especially their neighbours. In this situation, the presence of others creates a potential fear of social embarrassment and people are likely to comply with the requests of the polling agencies and cast their votes.

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