APPROACHES AND THEORIES OF POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Abstract:

Political psychology is a field derived from both fields of psychology and political science. Its a field that provides insights into the roots of decision making pertaining to voting, administration and political behavior.This field has been developed overtime by understanding the actions and reactions of wars that took place in the past, other political events which include decisions made by lawmakers, policies adopted by political and non-political organizations, social movements and other events that have influenced history in general. The field of political psychology has been influenced and has also developed theories based on the comprehension of the behavioral revolution and authoritarianism.In this article, the different theories of social psychology, psychodynamic and other personality theories in psychology and how they have explained underlying political behavior. Cognitive approaches including the effect of heuristics and attitudinal choices on behavior have also been addressed. Psychobiographies of political figures such as Joseph Stalin have also been studied to understand the underlying cause and existence of certain political behaviors.The scope of political psychology is also studied by understanding the dialectical aspects of links amongst individuals and from individuals to society. The implications of the study of political psychology in its understanding of the concepts of nationalism and how it plays a key role in influencing international relations and soft power.