Internet Political Incivility Reduces Perceptions of Competence and Rational Attributions in the Context of the U.S. Border Wall Debate

Participants from South Texas encountered stimuli manipulating the effects of incivility and argument strength on positions regarding the border wall. An uncivil discussion yielded lower ratings of competence and rationality, even for stronger arguments. The results show that uncivil discourse may precipitate a negativity bias clouding judgment of arguments.