New Books in Sociology

Taylor N. Carlson, "Through the Grapevine: Socially Transmitted Information and Distorted Democracy" (U Chicago Press, 2024)

Jan 26, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Taylor N. Carlson, an associate professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis, delves into the dynamics of how information spreads in today's society. He explains that a significant portion of Americans now rely on peer-to-peer communication rather than traditional media for political insights. Carlson reveals the consequences of this shift, including increased bias and misinformation, leading to distorted democratic processes. He also explores the dual impact of social conversations on public attitudes, especially regarding critical issues like immigration and environmental policy.
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INSIGHT

Socially Transmitted Information and Democracy

  • Taylor N. Carlson's book, "Through the Grapevine," examines how information changes as it's socially transmitted.
  • It explores how this impacts political attitudes, behavior, and the functioning of democracy.
INSIGHT

Information Distortion in Social Transmission

  • Socially transmitted information tends to become sparse, biased, less accurate, and more mobilizing.
  • This distortion occurs as information flows from media to individuals and then to others through conversations.
ANECDOTE

Differing Interpretations of News

  • Participants in a study summarized the same news article about Biden's border policies in vastly different ways.
  • A Democrat focused on the path to citizenship, while a Republican emphasized border security failures.
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