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Psych Basics

Politics

The world of politics reflects human nature in all its rational and irrational glory. How we govern ourselves and make decisions, use and often abuse power, reflect our deepest fears at least as much as our aspirations and ideals. Because many of the world's biggest problems are behavioral in nature, policies, to be successful, must grapple with our innermost attitudes.



Voice of the People

Scientocracy: Policy making that reflects human nature

A government of the people, but informed by scientists.

The Ideological Animal

Our politics are only partly shaped by reason; fear of death and innate temperament cast deciding votes.

How Ideology Colors Morality

Conservatives and liberals reside in different moral worlds.

How To Choose a President

To choose leaders, American citizens need knowledge of the psychology of real political judgments.

An Electrifying Election that Spoke to History

Wilderness-walking Republicans will wear hair shirts, drink brackish water.

Social Play and the Genesis of Democracy

In play childen learn that they are the adults.

Can a Candidate Be Too Religious?

Though it's rarely said, Americans are uneasy with religious politicians.

Does Anyone Care About Politics Anymore?

Why apathy explains what’s going wrong.

On One Hand You’re an Authoritarian, on the Other Hand You’re Not

How you use your dominant hand may reveal some of your political attitudes.

Vote for me!

Babyfacedness, Availability, and other Cognitive Biases in Politics

Does that cuter looking candidate seem like he'd be a less competent leader? Or does the fact that you can't remember what your senator did for you recently mean she's not effective? Oh the many cognitive psych traps that underlie our political preferences.


What's In a Face?

Unspoken truths about which candidates we're willing to vote for.

What Has Your Senator Done For You Lately?

A new campaign ad uses a clever cognitive psychology trick to win your vote.

See Also

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Politics Blogs

  • Roy Eidelson, Ph.D.

    Dangerous Ideas

    How our core beliefs promote and prevent progressive change.
    By Roy Eidelson, Ph.D.

  • Dangerous Minds

    Understanding the motives and methods of terrorists.
    By Anthony Lemieux, Ph.D.

  • Dignity

    Why staying civil is the key to conflict resolution
    By Donna Hicks, Ph.D.
  • Thomas J. Leeper

    Polarized

    How opinions unite and divide us.
    By Thomas J. Leeper

  • Political Intelligence

    The traits that make or break leaders.
    By Russell Razzaque, M.D.
  • Peter Ubel, M.D.

    Scientocracy

    Why psychological science is relevant to policy debates--and what policies might look like if they were better aligned with human nature.
    By Peter Ubel
  • Sarah Estes Graham

    The Courage of Our Conniptions

    Musings on religion, politics and other unmentionables.
    By Sarah Estes Graham
  • Peter T. Coleman, Ph.D.

    The Five Percent

    Finding solutions to seemingly impossible conflicts
    By Peter T. Coleman, Ph.D.

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