Political Psychology

3 credits · Undergraduate

This course explores research that utilizes psychological theories and methods to help us better understand the political world in which we live: exploring how individuals think, feel, and behave in relation to politics. As a sub-discipline that bridges psychology and political science, political psychology is a vast and ever-expanding field of study. As such, the course cannot explore the field in its entirety, but instead will focus on some of the discipline’s most enduring questions (emotions, identities, etc.) as well as contemporary questions of interest (fake news, conspiracy theories, etc.). Topics to be covered include the origins of political ideology, processes of radicalization, causes of intergroup conflict and prejudice, and the role of genes and personality in political behaviour. COREQUISITES: None PREREQUISITES: None CROSSLISTED: No RESTRICTIONS: None EXCLUSIONS: None FORMATS: Lecture