Ali steps ofthe project and analysis were conducted by the authors of this book, researchers from the Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences...

Interviews were carried out by an agency for opinion polis and social investigations, "De-moskop". The project was sponsored by the Institute to which the authors are afflliated. What was the object ofthe study? Putting routine socio-economic and demographic questions aside, a number of psychological variables were taken into consideration, falling into two classes. One class of variables related to the components of socio-political mentality, comprising: value preferences, hopes and worries about the fiiture, social identity, individualism-collectivism, and political anomy. The other class comprised morê context-related variables: perception ofthe most and least preferred candidates, perceptions of electorates, and emotional reactions to the announcement of results of the first round of elections. The respondents were also asked to evaluate the candidates, to indicate whether they would take part in the voting and, if so, for whom they would cast their votes. The book launched today is not a complete report on the author's findings. As the Reader shall notice, this volume refers to the first survey conducted before the first round of elections. The next volume, presenting results of the second survey and an attempt towards a comprehensive, integrating model will be co-ming out soon. Chapter one by Krzysztof Gembura-Chmielewski is the only article entering this volume, based on the second survey. Its topie is the emotional climate resulting from the first round of presidential elections. Given a list of nine affects, respondents most frequ-ently indicated Surprise, Joy of Victory and Disillusion, as their feelings after the results of the first round had been announced. Pride, Shame and Anger were the least frequently experienced emotional states. Ali affects but Surprise can be grouped according to their positive or negative connotations. Thus, one group com-prises Joy of Yictory, Pride, and Joy of Opponenfs Defeat. Disillu- w -? CD § S"- 2. 5? S- £ g s> § P p z CTQ CD lii P 2 p CD _ fri CD O CD H-£^ o s» 2 o a 3 % 172 Summary It differed, however, considerably between the candidates: value orientations predicted the vote for Cimoszewicz in 51%, for Mazowiecki in 40%, while only in 14% for Tymiñski (below the chance level). As compared with the figures predicted from respondents' value orientations, the votes for Cimoszewicz and Bartoszcze were grossly under-represented in real figures. On the same grounds, the votes for Tymiñski were over-represented. Among socio-demographic variables, education was the most important determinant of voting preferences. Higher level of education went along with the value profile of Libera³ capitalism and Secular europeism. Krzysztof Korzeniowski, author of chapter 6, sets his theme on the role of political anomy in electoral preferences and behaviors. The concept is defined as evaluative confusion and disorientation in the socio-political reality. The article elaborates on the effects of political anomy during the first round of presidential elections. Profound changes taking place in the Polish social system provide grounds to anticipate a high level of anomy. Findings show that in about 70% of the Polish population, the level of political anomy was unquestionably high. Acomparison of the present results with findings in the late 80's indicates that we have recently witnessed an increase of political anomy. There is no evidence for political anomy to depend on respondents' socio-economic status. It was found, however, to be higher among country-side dwellers than inhabitants of larger cities, suggesting that political anomy could be related to the distance from where one lives to the seat of central authorities. Political anomy turned out to be a factor of importance in the political fate of two presidential candidates. It was found that less anomic individuals approved and showed morê readiness to vote for T.Mazowiecki. The vote for S.Tymiñski and his popularity were, to the contrary, morê likely among individuals scoring high in anomy. An attempt was madê to explain these results on two grounds: (1) in terms of how anomy affects cognitive functioning and (2) by the differences in how electoral campaigns of these two candidates were run. 173 Summary As to the first, it has been established in American studies that highly anomic people have little socio-political knowledge, show an inclination towards magical thinking, and exhibit Iow cognitive complexity and close-mindedness. In view of these facts, it appears that the highly complex election program laid out by T.Mazowiecki could not get across to such voters