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Resistance or Capitulation? How Discrete Emotions Shape Citizens’ Interactions With the Administrative State

Resistance or Capitulation? How Discrete Emotions Shape Citizens’ Interactions With the... Public administration researchers have found that unfavorable state actions can trigger negative emotions in citizens, but the behavioral consequences of these emotions have been understudied. We draw on psychological insights to predict how discrete emotional responses to unfavorable interactions with the state (specifically: administrative decisions to deny access to public benefits) will predict citizens’ coping behaviors, such as whether they voice grievances, file complaints, and seek information. We test our hypotheses using a survey of applicants of a notoriously burdensome, means-tested tuition-free college program in Oklahoma, USA. In line with our theoretical framework, we find anger increases opposition behaviors in reaction to losses of access to the program, whereas shame reduces opposition among citizens. We also find that fear increases information-seeking and resistance behaviors. The results demonstrate the role of discrete emotions in predicting state-directed citizen behaviors, but also provide the groundwork for applying the discrete emotions framework to other actors, such as public managers and street-level bureaucrats. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The American Review of Public Administration SAGE

Resistance or Capitulation? How Discrete Emotions Shape Citizens’ Interactions With the Administrative State

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References (141)

Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2022
ISSN
0275-0740
eISSN
1552-3357
DOI
10.1177/02750740221128554
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Public administration researchers have found that unfavorable state actions can trigger negative emotions in citizens, but the behavioral consequences of these emotions have been understudied. We draw on psychological insights to predict how discrete emotional responses to unfavorable interactions with the state (specifically: administrative decisions to deny access to public benefits) will predict citizens’ coping behaviors, such as whether they voice grievances, file complaints, and seek information. We test our hypotheses using a survey of applicants of a notoriously burdensome, means-tested tuition-free college program in Oklahoma, USA. In line with our theoretical framework, we find anger increases opposition behaviors in reaction to losses of access to the program, whereas shame reduces opposition among citizens. We also find that fear increases information-seeking and resistance behaviors. The results demonstrate the role of discrete emotions in predicting state-directed citizen behaviors, but also provide the groundwork for applying the discrete emotions framework to other actors, such as public managers and street-level bureaucrats.

Journal

The American Review of Public Administration – SAGE

Published: Nov 1, 2022

Keywords: discrete emotions; citizen–state interactions; administrative burden; education policy

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