Political Psychology

This course provides a comprehensive survey of the study of political psychology, which is a dynamic sub-discipline at the intersection of psychology and political science. (A special emphasis is placed on perspectives derived from social and personality psychology). After reviewing the historical development of political psychology and discussing the role of values in social science, we will cover a series of substantive topics, including authoritarianism and mass politics; personality and political leadership; mass media and candidate perception; left-right (or liberal-conservative) ideology; public opinion and voting; individual and group decision-making; leadership and persuasion; social identification and social dominance; racial and ethnic prejudice; intergroup relations; causes and effects of terrorism; protest, collective action, and revolution.