KİŞİLİK PSİKOLOJİSİ, ÖNYARGININ PSİKOLOJİSİ ve KAMUOYU GORDON ALLPORT ve WALTER LİPPMANN’IN GÖRÜŞLERİ ÇEÇEVESİNDE BİR DEĞERLENDİRME

Abstract

There are a lot of theories and approaches regarding what public opinion is and how it is formed. These theories and approaches throw light on the concept of public opinion within the framework of various terms by taking such fields as political sciences, sociology, psychology, social psychology and political psychology into their focus. Walter Lippmann, in his book titled “Public Opinion”, written in 1922, attempts to explain what public opinion is and how it is formed and he puts forward the concept of stereotype, the basis of prejudice, thereby gaining himself a prominent position in history. Lippmann, who used social, cognitive and psychological approaches in explaining public opinion was influenced by the ideas of Gordon Allport, who has made significant contributions in the fields of psychology and social psychology, and who is considered as the father of personality psychology. This study aims to illustrate (show) in what ways Walter Lippmann has been influenced by Gordon Allport, and the ideas and concepts put forth by both scientists and their contributions in explaining in general what public opinion is, and how it is formed. In this point there is a relationship between personality and prejudice and within these terms framework Lippmann and Allport’s views and ideas set light to explaining of these two terms of what public opinion is and how has been formed to.