Social and Psychological Influences on Political Behavior (401)
In this seminar, we will explore in depth the contributions to political behavior stemming from innate differences in biology, exposure to the immediate social environment, and the interaction between these influences. Much of the reading you encounter in this class has been published in the last five years, and will reflect the new directions—and consequently off-the-beaten-path approach—undertaken by scholars on the cutting edge of political behavior research. A scan of the reading schedule in this syllabus will give you an idea of the range of topics we will encounter. Our work will be to synthesize the readings to understand the points of consensus, contention, and uncertainty in what we think we know about why and how people think, feel, and act in the political realm.
