Political psychology investigates politics, politicians and political behavior through psychological perspectives, while also examining psychological processes through a socio-political lens, so that the relationship between the two fields runs in both directions. The interdisciplinary field draws on anthropology, economics, history, international relations, journalism, media studies, philosophy, political science, psychology and sociology, examining how beliefs, motivation, perception, cognition, information processing, learning, socialization and attitude formation shape phenomena including leadership, domestic and foreign policy, ethnic violence, war, genocide, group conflict, racist behavior, voting, nationalism and political extremism.
Facts
Central QuestionPolitical psychology asks how psychological processes such as beliefs, motivation, perception and information processing shape political behavior, and how political context in turn shapes those same psychological processes. 1 Key DebateThe authoritarian personality theory, developed after World War II to explain susceptibility to fascism, carries acknowledged weaknesses in its F-scale measure and may have been more relevant to the period in which it was produced than to political behavior generally, a limitation later researchers such as Bob Altemeyer tried to address with revised trait-based measures. 1 Connections
Associated With
His social identity theory is widely applied in political psychology to explain group-based political behavior.
Includes
Source Wikipedia: Ballot Order Effect
Source Social dominance theory, Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia: System Justification Theory
Sources
1. Political psychology
Wikimedia FoundationLead section, opening sentence
Political psychology (or psychology of politics) is an interdisciplinary academic field, dedicated to understanding politics, politicians and political behavior from a psychological perspective, and psychological processes using socio-political perspectives.
Frameworks for assessing personality, The authoritarian personality section
There are many weaknesses associated with this syndrome and the F-scale. It may have been more relevant during the period in which it was produced, being shortly after World War II.
View the Source Wikipedia: System Justification Theory
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: System Justification Theory, CategoriesQuote, Includes: System Justification Theory, Categories
Wikipedia article 'System justification theory' is filed under Category:Political psychology.
Wikipedia: Ballot Order Effect
Wikimedia FoundationIncludes: Ballot Order Effect, CategoriesQuote, Includes: Ballot Order Effect, Categories
Wikipedia article 'Ballot order effect' is filed under Category:Political psychology.
Social dominance theory, Wikipedia
Includes: Social Dominance Theory, CategoriesQuote, Includes: Social Dominance Theory, Categories
Wikipedia article 'Social dominance theory' is filed under Category:Political psychology.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.