PSYC 462: Political Psychology

The course examines the psychological factors that explain political behaviour. Theories and researches in both Psychology and Political Science will be examined. Other relevant topics include personality approaches to understanding political leaders and voters, the role of socialization in the formation of political preferences, how voters process political information, form impressions of political candidates and make voting decisions. The role of stereotypes and how they affect the candidate evaluation process, the uses (and abuses) of persuasion in politics,the role of the mass media in politics, the effects of political advertising, attack campaigning, the role of the media in dictating how the public thinks and the role of women and minorities in politics will be discussed.