Framing consist of concepts and theoretical perspectives on how people perceive, organize and communicate about reality. It is a social construction of a social issue by social media, political leaders or social movements. It selectively influences people’s perceptions of meaning of words or phrases. Framing in communications can be seen to be positive or negative depending on the audience and the being information delivered. It provides a context for discussion or negotiation. Specific aspects of a given subject are selected and highlighted while others are excluded or reduced. Different parties believe and advocate different frames for the same situation.
For example, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinians. It can have two frames whereby they represent the actual frames of the two sides. The first frame says that this land is our ancestral land, under God’s guidance. The area is vital for the protection of our people from criminal terrorist attacks of the Palestinians, who the leaders have refused to control. We will not give up on an inch of this land! The second frame is that, this land was inhabited by our ancestors many years ago. It is vital for the development of viable Palestinians homeland thus should remain independent Palestinian state. There is no peace until we regain our possession of the land (Black, Wedeman & Mullen, 2015). The metaphor is used to bring an abstract of events and it makes those unfamiliar with the situation comprehend it more easily. The message being delivered is the land conflict between the two sides
Rational audience will best receive the frame, but those who are irrational will disagree with it. Framing provides opportunities that help others make sense of events as it explains the reasoning that supports the decision. Moreover, it increases the chances of getting others agreement and commitment. Skillful framing can be used to bridge the gap between two conflicting parties and help them come up with a solution. To add on this, framing can be used to deceive or manipulate a perception and therefore it should have values that guide the process.
Framing causes citizens incompetence as they will base their preferences on arbitrary information that makes them subject to manipulation of any kind by the elite. Additionally framing cause decision problems whereby they can render decisions irrational. In political field a politician framing present facts to shows that there is a problem the need a solution, but they ensure that the solution favors their political interests and appears to be the best alternative course of action.
The event could be framed in such a way that it brings peace or a solution for the conflict between the two nations, for instance, this land is a very particular area, with historical characteristics for both nations. Therefore, it has historical, religion and political importance to both of you (Fairhurst, 2010). A sincere desires to get a solution to the conflict without bloodshed and provides your pole with peaceful lives must be there. It changes the message in that the conflicting audience are given the same information that favors the equally and it therefore calls for a standard solution. Illusions are used when referring to the historical ancestral land whereby the two audiences stand for.
In conclusion, framing can be a very useful tool of communication and conflict resolutions. Therefore, it is important to generate new politically oriented research frames as it aims at increasing public awareness of the connection between framing and reasoning.
References
Black P., Wedeman B., & Mullen J. (2015, October 21). Israeli Palestinian conflict: 2 views; 1 tragic outcome - CNN.com. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2015/10/21/middleeast/israeli-palestinian-root-of-violence/
Fairhurst, G. T. (2010). The power of framing: Creating the language of leadership (Vol. 290). John Wiley & Sons.
