Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2020, Communication Studies (Communication)

In this dissertation, I illustrate how external rhetorics (social discourses and rhetorical stories) contribute to what Jean Nienkamp terms internal rhetorics, self-deliberative arguments that take place in the “parliament of the psyche,” and inform the symbolic action of communicative (dis)engagement. Conducting an iterative analysis of 32 respondent interview transcripts, I rhetorically examine the reported lived experiences of self-identified political moderates to uncover the most influential external rhetorics that contribute to persuasive thoughts and emotions and consequently shape decisions to communicatively (dis)engage in political conversations. Findings reveal that reported external rhetorics—critical discourses, rhetorical stories of incivility, absence of recognition, and complimentary descriptions—contribute to reactive thoughts and emotions of avoidance, excitement, and caution, while contributing to decisions to participate, remain silent, or evaluate the context before responding. Moreover, the self-deliberative process of political moderates reflects a desire for civil dialogue in both rhetorical identity representations and in dialogic and deliberative interactions. Implications further underscore the theoretical intersectionality of rhetoric and public dialogue and deliberation inquiry, offer methodological avenues for engaged rhetoricians, critically dissect civil dialogue's potentially oppressive privileges, and consider the transformative potentials of critical dialogue.

Committee: jw Smith (Committee Chair); Roger Aden (Committee Member); Laura Black (Committee Member); Theodore Hutchinson (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Education; Political Science; Rhetoric