PSYC 4928L / POLI 2193 Topics: Political Psychology

Abstract

What does it mean to say that someone is ideologically liberal or conservative? Why do certain people self-identify as conservative and others as liberal? Do innate personality traits cause political ideology or does ideology follow from individual views on public policy? How are racial, religious, and other group identities related to partisan attachment? How does elite discourse shape individual policy preferences and priorities? Why has the hostility between Democrats and Republicans seemingly increased so much in recent years? The subfield of political psychology seeks to answer these questions, and many others. Over the semester, we will explore these topics to clarify the nature and origins of ideology and partisan attachment, the influence of elites on mass perceptions and priorities, and contemporary challenges to American democracy. Through a combination of lectures, seminar discussion, and independent research, students are introduced to basic concepts in psychology and they how can be used to elucidate a range of crucial political behaviors. Course objectives: ➢ Improving student familiarity with current research and controversies in political psychology. ➢ Developing skills to analyze differing methodologies. ➢ Sharpening analytical reasoning skills. ➢ Enhancing comprehension of contemporary US politics