ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:Mypurposeistocifferanassessmentofthescientfficlegacyof Converse's"BeliefSystems"byreviewingjiveproductivelinesofresearch stimulatedbyhisauthoritativeanalysisandunsettlingconclusions.FirstIrecountthelaterlifehistoryofConverse'snotionof"nonattitudes,"andsuggest thatasimportantasnonattitudesare,weshouldbepayingatleastasmuch attentiontotheiropposite:attitudesheldwithconviction.Second,Iarguethat theproblemofinsufficientinformationthatresidesatthecenterofConverse's analysishasnotgoneaway,andthatnewlyfashionedmodelsofinformation processingcifferonlypartialremedies.Third,Isuggestthattheconceptofthe "averagevoter"isamaliciousfiction,asitblindsustotheenormousvariation inpoliticalattention,interest,andknowledgethatcharacterizesmasspublics, inConverse'stimeasinourown.Fourth,Idevelopanaffirmativeaspectof Converse'sanalysisthathasmostlybeenoverlooked:namely,thatifideological reasoningisbeyondmostcitizens'capacityandinterest,theymightfallback onasimpleandreasonablealternative,whichIwillcall"group-centrism." Andfifth,Iconsiderthepossibilitythatwhilethemajorityofindividualcitizensfallsshortofdemocraticstandards,thepublicasawholemightdorather well.
