“You Know How I Feel?” The Identification of Politicians’ Moral Emotional Displays During the 2022 Election Campaign in Hungary

We delve into the identification of politicians’ moral emotional displays during Hungary’s 2022 election campaign. The study acknowledges the long-standing recognition of the role of emotions in politics, but highlights gaps in understanding specific emotional impacts. Focusing on shame, guilt, pride, and hubris, this chapter analyses how voters perceive politicians’ emotional displays. Using emotional intelligence theory, it assesses individuals’ (and politicians’) ability to identify, understand, and regulate emotions. Through face-to-face surveys conducted before the elections, the study explores factors influencing voters’ recognition of moral emotional displays, including party preference and media consumption habits. Results reveal that regular political discussions with family members significantly enhance recognition, while partisanship also plays a role. The study suggests that interpersonal skills and discussions about politics contribute to better recognition of politicians’ moral emotional displays.