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POLI_SCI 335-0 : Political Psychology

Description

How do campaign advertisements influence voters’ perceptions and behavior? What roles do emotions play in politics? Do we all harbor some measure of racism, sexism, or homophobia, and what role do these stereotypes play in political behavior? How and why do ideologies form, and how does partisanship influence the way that voters understand the political world? How do people perceive threat, and what are the psychological consequences of terrorism?

These questions all concern the psychological foundations of political phenomena in everyday life. Determining the psychological factors that drive people’s political attitudes and behaviors has long been a central question in understanding everyday human behavior and remains so today.

This seminar-based course will cover foundational topics in the psychology of politics, including the psychological profiles of liberals and conservatives, morality, political behavior (e.g., voting), social stability and change, and stereotyping and prejudice.