Political Communication Terminology

Question 1

Trolling

Answer 1

message designed to elicit an emotional reaction, often disruptive or inflammatory, from outsiders or targets while providing entertainment or strategic advantage to the sender

e.g. Was Musk’s gesture trolling?

Question 2

Dog Whistle

Answer 2

covert message that outsiders don’t notice or understand

Ex:
“state’s right” = the federal government’s efforts to try to tell states what to do
“urban voters” = minorities and black citizens
“globalists” or “global elites” = Jews (antisemitic)
“Let’s go Brandon” = fuck Joe Biden

Question 3

Gaslighting

Answer 3

manipulative message that outsiders or recipients are made to doubt or question their understanding of perception or reality

Question 4

Plausible Deniability

Answer 4

ambiguous message or action that allows the sender to claim innocence or misunderstanding, even if insiders or observers suspect the true intent

e.g. saying “it’s just a joke” to a racist comment or Trump’s “Be there. Will be wild.” statement regarding Jan 6th

Question 5

*Normalization

Answer 5

gradual acceptance of behaviors, ideas, or practices that were once considered unacceptable

Question 6

Overton Window

Answer 6

model of the range from radical to “normal”

-can be shifted or widened
-does extreme behavior shift the Overton window?