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Attitudes Towards Press in Today’s Turkey: How Death Thoughts and Political Tendencies Effect Support for Free Press and Free Speech

Year 2019, Volume: 11 Issue: 18, 1996 - 2018, 30.06.2019
https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.557391

Abstract

Having inspired by “The
Mortality Muzzle: The effect of death thoughts on attitudes toward national
security and a watchdog press” article by Cuillier et al. (2010), the current
study aims to examine the effect of mortality salience and political tendencies
on attitudes of university students in Turkey towards free press and free
speech. Original study’s aim was to understand how Terror Management Theory’s
predictions effect people’s attitudes towards a watchdog press. This study,
aims to conduct a similar research in Turkey, understand how the stated factors
work in Turkish culture, and see how results differ. Study was conducted in
with a total of 110 university students (%61 female, %37 male, %2 unstated)
taking various undergraduate and MA courses from communication faculty of a
foundation university in Istanbul Turkey. Besides Terror Management Theory,
results are discussed according to Turkey’s specific conditions at the time
data was collected, and participants’ political tendencies. In addition, possible
reasons for the differences in results are specified.

References

  • Anadolu Ajansı. (2016). 15 Temmuz 2016: Dakika dakika FETÖ’nün darbe girişimi. Istanbul: Anadolu Ajansı Yayınları, Available at: https://www.aa.com.tr/uploads/TempUserFiles/pdf%2Fkitap-_yeni.pdf Accessed on 24 September 2018.
  • Becker, E. (1975). The denial of death. New York: The Free Press.
  • Becker, E. (1976). Escape from evil. New York: The Free Press.
  • Burke, B. L., Martens, A. and Faucher, E. H. (2010). Two decades of terror management theory: A metaanalysis of mortality salience research. Personality & Psychology Review, 14 (2), 1-41.
  • Cuillier, D., Duell, B. and Joireman, J. (2010). The mortality muzzle: The effect of death thoughts on attitudes toward national security and a watchdog press. Journalism, 11 (2), 185-202.
  • Daily Sabah. (2018). Violence against women rises sharply in Turkey, 409 women killed in 2017. Available at: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2018/01/02/violence-against-women-rises-sharply-inturkey-409-women-killed-in-2017 Accessed on 23 August 2018.
  • Davis, D. W. and Silver, B. D. (2004). Civil liberties vs. security: Public opinion in the context of the terrorist attacks on America. American Journal of Political Science, 48 (1), 28-46.
  • Djerf-Pierre, M. and Wängnerud, L. (2016). Gender and sociotropic anxiety: Explaining gender differences in anxiety to social risks and threats. International Journal of Public Opinion Resarch, 28 (2), 217-240.
  • Gerbner, G., Gross, L., Morgan, M. and Signorielli, N. (1986). Living with television: The dynamics of the cultivation process. In (J. Bryant and D. Zillman eds). Perspectives on Media Effects, (p. 17-40), Hilldale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates,
  • Global Freedom of Expression: Columbia University. (2016). The Case of Can Dündar and Erdem Gül. Available at: https://globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu/cases/case-journalists-can-dundar-erdemgul/ Accessed on 13 September 2018.
  • Goldenberg, J. L., Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J., Solomon, S., Bluck, B. and Cornwell, R. (2001). I am not an animal: Mortality salience, disgust, and the denial of human creatureliness. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 130 (3), 427-435.
  • Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S., Rosenblatt, A., Veeder, M., Kirkland, S. and Lyon, D. (1990). Evidence for terror management theory: II. The effects of mortality salience on reactions to those who threaten or bolster the cultural worldview. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58 (2): 308-318.
  • Greenberg, J., Simon, L., Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S. ve Chatel, D. (1992). Terror management and tolerance: Does mortality salience always intensify negative reactions to others who threaten one’s worldview? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 212–220.
  • Greenberg, J., Solomon, S., Pyszczynski, T., Rosenblatt, A., Burling, J., Lyon, D.,….. ,Pinel, E. (1992). Why do people need self-esteem? Converging evidence that self-esteem serves an anxietybuffering function. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63 (6), 913-922.
  • Güldü, Ö. and Ersoy-Kart, M. (2009). Toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri ve siyasal tutumlar: Sosyal psikolojik bir değerlendirme. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi, 64 (3), 97-116.
  • Hurriyet Daily News. (April 2nd, 2018). Turkish court issues arrest warrant, red notice for journalist Can Dündar. Available at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-court-issues-arrest-warrant-red-notice-forjournalist-can-dundar-129654 Accessed on 13 September 2018.
  • Institute for Economic and Peace. (2017). Global terrorism index 2017, Measuring and understanding the impact of terrorism. Available at: http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2017/11/Global-TerrorismIndex-2017.pdf Accessed on 2 Ağustos 2018.
  • Institute for Economics & Peace. (2018). Global peace index: Measuring peace in a complex world, Sydney, June 2018. Available at: http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2018/06/Global-Peace-Index2018-2.pdf Accessed on 3 September 2018.
  • İnsan Hakları Ortak Platformu. (2018). 21 temmuz 2016-20 mart 2018 olağanüstü hal uygulamaları:Güncellenmiş durum raporu 17 april 2018. Available at: http://www.ihd.org.tr/21-temmuz-2016-20- mart-2018-ohal-uygulamalari-raporu/ Accessed on 20 August 2018.
  • 140 Journos. (2017). Terror attacks in Turkey Between 2011 and 2017. Available at: https://140journos.com/terror-attacks-in-turkey-between-2011-and-2017-4b5981c974ca Accessed on 24 August 2018.
  • Kökdemir, D. and Yeniçeri, Z. (2010). Terror management in a predominantly Muslim country: The effects of mortality salience on university identity and on preference for the development of international relations. European Psychologist, 15 (3), 165-174.
  • Montague, Z., Kenneth, R. R. and Timothy, R. W. (2016, December 31). Recent terrorist attacks in Turkey. The New York Times, Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/31/world/europe/turkey- recent-attacks.html Accessed on 23 August 2018.
  • Paulhus, D. L. (1991). Measurement and control of response bias. In (J. P. Robinson, P. R. Shaver ve L. S. Wrightsman, eds). Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Attitudes, (p. 17-59). San Diego: Academic Press.
  • Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J. and Solomon, S. (1999). A dual-process model of defense against conscious and unconscious death-related thoughts: An extension of Terror Management Theory. Psychological Review, 106 (4), 835-845.
  • Pyszczynski, T., Abdollahi, A., Solomon, S., Greenberg, J., Cohen, F. and Weise, D. (2006). Mortality salience, martyrdom, and military might: The great satan versus the axis of evil. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 32 (4), 525–37.
  • Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S. and Greenberg, J. (2003). In the wake of 9/11: The psychology of terror. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.
  • Rosenblatt, A., Greenberg, J., Solomon, S., Pyszczynski, T. and Lyon, D. (1989). Evidence for terror management theory I: The effects of mortality salience on reactions to those who violate or uphold cultural values. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57 (4), 681-690.
  • Schimel, J., Simon, L., Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S., Waxmonsky, J. and Arndt, J. (1999). Stereotypes and terror management evidence that mortality salience enhances stereotypic thinking and preferences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77 (5), 905-926.
  • Strachman, A. and Schimel, J. (2006). Terror management and close relationships: Evidence that mortality salience reduces commitment among partners with different worldviews. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 23 (6), 965-978.
  • Strachan, E., Schimel, J., Arndt, J., Williams, T., Solomon, S., Pyszczynski, T. and Greenberg, J. (2007). Terror mismanagement: Evidence that mortality salience exacerbates phobic and compulsive behaviors. Personality and Social psychology Bulletin, 33, 1137-1151.
  • Operational Portal Refugee Situations. (2018). Syria regional refugee response. Available at: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria Accessed on 9 August 2018.
  • Umut Vakfı. (2018). Türkiye silahlı şiddet (cinayet) haritası 2017: Bireysel silahlı olaylarda %61 artış gözlemlendi. Available at: http://www.umut.org.tr/umut-vakfi-turkiye-silahli-siddet-haritasi-20172/ Accessed on 20 August 2018.
  • Stratejik Ortak. (2018). Zeytindalı harekatı güncel Afrin son durum haritası. Available at: https://www.stratejikortak.com/2018/07/zeytin-dali-harekati-harita.html Accessed on 24 August 2018.
  • Yelaldı, E. (2014). Türkiye’de terör, terörizm ve terör örgütleri. Available at: http://akademikperspektif.com/2014/05/18/turkiyede-teror-terorizm-ve-teror-orgutleri/ Accessed on 24 August 2018.

Günümüz Türkiyesi’nde Basına Karşı Tutumlar: Ölümle İlgili Düşünceler ve Siyasi Eğilimler, Basın ve İfade Özgürlüğüne Desteği Nasıl Etkiliyor?

Year 2019, Volume: 11 Issue: 18, 1996 - 2018, 30.06.2019
https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.557391

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı,
Cuillier ve diğerleri (2010) tarafından kaleme alınan “The Mortality Muzzle:
The effect of death thoughts on attitudes toward national security and a
watchdog press” isimli araştırmayı Türkiye’de tekrarlayarak, ölümlülüğün
belirginliğinin ve bireylerin siyasi eğilimlerinin, Türkiye’deki üniversite
öğrencilerinin basın özgürlüğüne ve ifade özgürlüğüne karşı tutumlarını nasıl
etkilediğini incelemektir. Orijinal çalışmanın kuramsal dayanağını Dehşet Yönetimi
Teorisi oluşturmuştur ve çalışma, söz konusu teorinin öngörülerinin, kamuoyunun
bekçi köpeği rolünü üstlenen basına karşı olan tutumları nasıl etkilediğini
anlamaya çalışmıştır. Bu çalışma ise, Türkiye’de benzer bir araştırma yapmak,
aynı faktörlerin Türkiye kültüründe nasıl işlediğini anlamak ve sonuçların
nasıl farklılaştığını görmek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Araştırma, İstanbul’da bir
vakıf üniversitesinin iletişim fakültesinde, çeşitli dersleri almakta olan 110
üniversite öğrencisi (%61 kadın, %37 erkek, %2 belirtilmemiş) ile
gerçekleştirilmiştir. Sonuçlar, Dehşet Yönetimi Kuramının yanı sıra,
Türkiye’nin bu çalışmanın verileri toplandığı dönemde var olan özel koşulları
ve katılımcıların siyasi eğilimleri ile birlikte tartışılmış ve farklılaşan
sonuçların olası sebepleri araştırılmıştır.

References

  • Anadolu Ajansı. (2016). 15 Temmuz 2016: Dakika dakika FETÖ’nün darbe girişimi. Istanbul: Anadolu Ajansı Yayınları, Available at: https://www.aa.com.tr/uploads/TempUserFiles/pdf%2Fkitap-_yeni.pdf Accessed on 24 September 2018.
  • Becker, E. (1975). The denial of death. New York: The Free Press.
  • Becker, E. (1976). Escape from evil. New York: The Free Press.
  • Burke, B. L., Martens, A. and Faucher, E. H. (2010). Two decades of terror management theory: A metaanalysis of mortality salience research. Personality & Psychology Review, 14 (2), 1-41.
  • Cuillier, D., Duell, B. and Joireman, J. (2010). The mortality muzzle: The effect of death thoughts on attitudes toward national security and a watchdog press. Journalism, 11 (2), 185-202.
  • Daily Sabah. (2018). Violence against women rises sharply in Turkey, 409 women killed in 2017. Available at: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2018/01/02/violence-against-women-rises-sharply-inturkey-409-women-killed-in-2017 Accessed on 23 August 2018.
  • Davis, D. W. and Silver, B. D. (2004). Civil liberties vs. security: Public opinion in the context of the terrorist attacks on America. American Journal of Political Science, 48 (1), 28-46.
  • Djerf-Pierre, M. and Wängnerud, L. (2016). Gender and sociotropic anxiety: Explaining gender differences in anxiety to social risks and threats. International Journal of Public Opinion Resarch, 28 (2), 217-240.
  • Gerbner, G., Gross, L., Morgan, M. and Signorielli, N. (1986). Living with television: The dynamics of the cultivation process. In (J. Bryant and D. Zillman eds). Perspectives on Media Effects, (p. 17-40), Hilldale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates,
  • Global Freedom of Expression: Columbia University. (2016). The Case of Can Dündar and Erdem Gül. Available at: https://globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu/cases/case-journalists-can-dundar-erdemgul/ Accessed on 13 September 2018.
  • Goldenberg, J. L., Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J., Solomon, S., Bluck, B. and Cornwell, R. (2001). I am not an animal: Mortality salience, disgust, and the denial of human creatureliness. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 130 (3), 427-435.
  • Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S., Rosenblatt, A., Veeder, M., Kirkland, S. and Lyon, D. (1990). Evidence for terror management theory: II. The effects of mortality salience on reactions to those who threaten or bolster the cultural worldview. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58 (2): 308-318.
  • Greenberg, J., Simon, L., Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S. ve Chatel, D. (1992). Terror management and tolerance: Does mortality salience always intensify negative reactions to others who threaten one’s worldview? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 212–220.
  • Greenberg, J., Solomon, S., Pyszczynski, T., Rosenblatt, A., Burling, J., Lyon, D.,….. ,Pinel, E. (1992). Why do people need self-esteem? Converging evidence that self-esteem serves an anxietybuffering function. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63 (6), 913-922.
  • Güldü, Ö. and Ersoy-Kart, M. (2009). Toplumsal cinsiyet rolleri ve siyasal tutumlar: Sosyal psikolojik bir değerlendirme. Ankara Üniversitesi SBF Dergisi, 64 (3), 97-116.
  • Hurriyet Daily News. (April 2nd, 2018). Turkish court issues arrest warrant, red notice for journalist Can Dündar. Available at: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkish-court-issues-arrest-warrant-red-notice-forjournalist-can-dundar-129654 Accessed on 13 September 2018.
  • Institute for Economic and Peace. (2017). Global terrorism index 2017, Measuring and understanding the impact of terrorism. Available at: http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2017/11/Global-TerrorismIndex-2017.pdf Accessed on 2 Ağustos 2018.
  • Institute for Economics & Peace. (2018). Global peace index: Measuring peace in a complex world, Sydney, June 2018. Available at: http://visionofhumanity.org/app/uploads/2018/06/Global-Peace-Index2018-2.pdf Accessed on 3 September 2018.
  • İnsan Hakları Ortak Platformu. (2018). 21 temmuz 2016-20 mart 2018 olağanüstü hal uygulamaları:Güncellenmiş durum raporu 17 april 2018. Available at: http://www.ihd.org.tr/21-temmuz-2016-20- mart-2018-ohal-uygulamalari-raporu/ Accessed on 20 August 2018.
  • 140 Journos. (2017). Terror attacks in Turkey Between 2011 and 2017. Available at: https://140journos.com/terror-attacks-in-turkey-between-2011-and-2017-4b5981c974ca Accessed on 24 August 2018.
  • Kökdemir, D. and Yeniçeri, Z. (2010). Terror management in a predominantly Muslim country: The effects of mortality salience on university identity and on preference for the development of international relations. European Psychologist, 15 (3), 165-174.
  • Montague, Z., Kenneth, R. R. and Timothy, R. W. (2016, December 31). Recent terrorist attacks in Turkey. The New York Times, Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/31/world/europe/turkey- recent-attacks.html Accessed on 23 August 2018.
  • Paulhus, D. L. (1991). Measurement and control of response bias. In (J. P. Robinson, P. R. Shaver ve L. S. Wrightsman, eds). Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Attitudes, (p. 17-59). San Diego: Academic Press.
  • Pyszczynski, T., Greenberg, J. and Solomon, S. (1999). A dual-process model of defense against conscious and unconscious death-related thoughts: An extension of Terror Management Theory. Psychological Review, 106 (4), 835-845.
  • Pyszczynski, T., Abdollahi, A., Solomon, S., Greenberg, J., Cohen, F. and Weise, D. (2006). Mortality salience, martyrdom, and military might: The great satan versus the axis of evil. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 32 (4), 525–37.
  • Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S. and Greenberg, J. (2003). In the wake of 9/11: The psychology of terror. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.
  • Rosenblatt, A., Greenberg, J., Solomon, S., Pyszczynski, T. and Lyon, D. (1989). Evidence for terror management theory I: The effects of mortality salience on reactions to those who violate or uphold cultural values. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57 (4), 681-690.
  • Schimel, J., Simon, L., Greenberg, J., Pyszczynski, T., Solomon, S., Waxmonsky, J. and Arndt, J. (1999). Stereotypes and terror management evidence that mortality salience enhances stereotypic thinking and preferences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77 (5), 905-926.
  • Strachman, A. and Schimel, J. (2006). Terror management and close relationships: Evidence that mortality salience reduces commitment among partners with different worldviews. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 23 (6), 965-978.
  • Strachan, E., Schimel, J., Arndt, J., Williams, T., Solomon, S., Pyszczynski, T. and Greenberg, J. (2007). Terror mismanagement: Evidence that mortality salience exacerbates phobic and compulsive behaviors. Personality and Social psychology Bulletin, 33, 1137-1151.
  • Operational Portal Refugee Situations. (2018). Syria regional refugee response. Available at: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/syria Accessed on 9 August 2018.
  • Umut Vakfı. (2018). Türkiye silahlı şiddet (cinayet) haritası 2017: Bireysel silahlı olaylarda %61 artış gözlemlendi. Available at: http://www.umut.org.tr/umut-vakfi-turkiye-silahli-siddet-haritasi-20172/ Accessed on 20 August 2018.
  • Stratejik Ortak. (2018). Zeytindalı harekatı güncel Afrin son durum haritası. Available at: https://www.stratejikortak.com/2018/07/zeytin-dali-harekati-harita.html Accessed on 24 August 2018.
  • Yelaldı, E. (2014). Türkiye’de terör, terörizm ve terör örgütleri. Available at: http://akademikperspektif.com/2014/05/18/turkiyede-teror-terorizm-ve-teror-orgutleri/ Accessed on 24 August 2018.
There are 34 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Psychology
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Gül Esra Atalay 0000-0002-3377-2694

Bahar Muratoğlu Pehlivan 0000-0001-8977-822X

Publication Date June 30, 2019
Acceptance Date June 21, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019 Volume: 11 Issue: 18

Cite

APA Atalay, G. E., & Muratoğlu Pehlivan, B. (2019). Attitudes Towards Press in Today’s Turkey: How Death Thoughts and Political Tendencies Effect Support for Free Press and Free Speech. OPUS International Journal of Society Researches, 11(18), 1996-2018. https://doi.org/10.26466/opus.557391