Effects of Negative Campaigning on Vote,Semantic Differential,and Thought Listing1

In 3 studies, subjects were asked to vote on all positively described candidate vs. an opponent with a 1-sentence negative. In Study 1, the ail-positively described candidate was voted for more often, was rated higher on 10 of 13 semantic differentials, and generated more positive and less negative thoughts. In Studies 2 and 3, the positively described candidate was voted for more, was rated higher on the semantic differentials, and generated more positive and less negative thoughts in the regular negative condition. In the condition in which an independent nonpartisan committee declared the negative groundless, there was no significant difference in any dependent variables. These theories have important theoretical implications related to Johnson-Cartee and Garramone's theories.