Political scandals reveal unethical or illegal behavior that harms citizens. They erode public trust in government institutions and stoke cynicism among voters, which reduces turnout and hinders the effectiveness of policymaking. Harmful Supreme Court decisions, partisan exploitation of the term “corruption,” and officials’ brazen disregard for norms have contributed to a moment of political crisis in America.
A wide range of factors can lead to the scandalization of politicians, from financial misdeeds and personal corruption to more intangible issues such as mendacity or obfuscation. The most common motives for corruption include greed, lust, obsession, and moral bankruptcy. Despite the widespread negative consequences of scandals, they remain difficult to define and investigate. Moreover, they often occur in the context of a complex set of social forces—including political polarization and a tendency for parties to attack their opponents rather than their allies.
The authors of this special section advance our understanding of the dynamics and impact of political scandal by bringing together empirical research from several different fields, including political psychology, political science, and communication studies. They examine a wide range of topics and produce a meta-analysis that provides the first attempt to measure the effects of political scandal using quantitative methods.
The contributions in this special section show that the way in which scandals are mediated is crucial to their effect. They point to experimental results that demonstrate how news media coverage can taint the perceived credibility of politicians. In addition, they offer insights into the psychological and societal impact of scandal, and they explore how journalists construct the stories that make up scandals.