The religious influence on the evangelical vote: a quantitative and sociological analysis based on field research

Authors

Keywords:

Evangelical vote. Religious leadership. Two-Level Communication Flow Theory. Voting behavior. Religious mobilization.

Abstract

The political decision-making process is marked by a complex network of social interactions, community influences and opinion leaders. This article investigates the phenomenon of evangelical voting in Brazil, analyzing the influence of religious leaders on the voting behavior of their faithful. Based on the theories of Paul Lazarsfeld and collaborators, such as The People's Choice (1944), Personal Influence (1955) and Voting: A Study of Opinion Formation in a Presidential Campaign (1957), this study employs a quantitative approach to understand the impact of religious leaders and the role of two-level communication in shaping electoral choices. The data reveals that the greater the participation of believers in religious activities, the greater the likelihood that their political decisions will be shaped by religious leaders. It is concluded that the evangelical vote reflects not only an individual choice, but a deeply social and community phenomenon, mediated by religious interactions that reinforce moral and political values.

Author Biographies

Maria Laura Rodrigues Gomes, Centro Universitário do Distrito Federal, DF, Brasil

Graduanda em Ciência Política pelo Centro Universitário do Distrito Federal.

André Felipe Rosa, Catholic University of Brasília

Graduado em Ciência Política pela Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Mestre em Psicologia pela UCB e Especialista em Relações Institucionais pelo IBMEC/DF.

References

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Katz, E., & Lazarsfeld, P. (1955). Personal influence: The part played by people in the flow of mass communications. New York: Free Press.

Lazarsfeld, P. F., Berelson, B., & Gaudet, H. (1944). The people's choice: How the voter makes up his mind in a presidential campaign. New York: Columbia University Press.

Lazarsfeld, P. F., Berelson, B., & McPhee, W. N. (1957). Voting: A study of opinion formation in a presidential campaign. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

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IBGE – Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. (2023). Censo 2023: População evangélica no Brasil atinge 30% do eleitorado. IBGE. Disponível em: https://www.ibge.gov.br/censo-evangelicos-2023. Acesso em 9 jan. 2024.

Published

2024-06-20

How to Cite

Gomes, M. L. R., & Rosa, A. F. (2024). The religious influence on the evangelical vote: a quantitative and sociological analysis based on field research. Scientific Collection Magazine, 8(15), e15182. Retrieved from http://portalcoleta.com.br/index.php/rcc/article/view/182

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