POLI 2369 Politics and Psychology

Through this course, students will learn how different aspects of human psychology influence mass public opinion and political behavior. Topics such as how we discuss politics with each other, form policy positions, decide to vote in elections, intake and interpret political information, understand perceived political opponents, and more, are all (at least partially) influenced by psychological factors. Over the term, this class will cover several different aspects of political psychology, including various theoretical underpinnings, personality, partisanship and other forms of identity, morality, media and misinformation, and neurological and evolutionary factors, among other topics. Along the way, we will relate core principles learned to broader topics in political science and to whats happening in contemporary politics.