Theme of the Month: Affective Leader Polarization

SUMMARY

The chapter examines how emotional polarization is established through presidential candidates. In the study, the following statements about Erdoğan and Kılıçdaroğlu were read to the interviewees, who were asked to rate them on a scale of “1-Definitely false” to “5-Definitely true”:

• I respect Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
• I trust Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
• I admire Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
• I like Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
• I find Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sincere.
• I hate Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
• I respect Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
• I trust Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
• I admire Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
• I like Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
• I find Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu sincere.
• I hate Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.