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Intro to Political Science
Table of Contents
Unit 2 Overview: Political Behavior: Human Nature in Action
2.1 What Goals Should We Seek in Politics?
2.2 Why Do Humans Make the Political Choices That They Do?
2.3 Human Behavior Is Partially Predictable
2.4 The Importance of Context for Political Decisions

Political decision-making is a complex process influenced by various factors. From rational choice theory to bounded rationality, individuals weigh costs and benefits while navigating cognitive limitations and time constraints.

Socialization, emotions, and information biases shape our political attitudes and choices. Self-interest, societal concerns, and group dynamics also play crucial roles in how we make political decisions and engage in political behavior.

Factors Influencing Political Decision-Making

Explain the key factors influencing human decision-making in political contexts

  • Rational choice theory assumes individuals make political decisions based on self-interest by weighing costs and benefits of political choices to maximize personal utility or benefit
  • Bounded rationality recognizes cognitive limitations and time constraints affect decision-making, causing individuals to use heuristics (mental shortcuts) to simplify complex decisions and choose "good enough" options rather than optimal solutions (satisficing)
  • Socialization and cultural influences shape political attitudes and values through family, peers, education, and media exposure, while cultural norms, traditions, and social identities (race, gender, religion) impact political preferences and choices
  • Emotions and affect guide decision-making through emotional responses to political stimuli, with fear, anger, and enthusiasm motivating political action, and affective intelligence theory suggesting emotions help individuals process political information
  • Information and cognitive biases influence political opinions through selective exposure (seeking information that confirms existing beliefs), confirmation bias (interpreting information to support preexisting views), and framing effects (how issues are presented)
    • Cognitive dissonance can occur when individuals encounter information that conflicts with their existing beliefs, leading to discomfort and potentially influencing political choices

Instrumental vs expressive motivations

  • Instrumental motivations focus on achieving specific policy outcomes or political goals, such as voting for a candidate who aligns with one's policy preferences or engaging in political activism to influence legislation or social change
  • Expressive motivations are driven by a desire to express one's identity, values, or emotions, such as voting as a symbolic act of civic duty or party loyalty, or participating in protests or rallies to show solidarity with a cause
  • Instrumental and expressive motivations often coexist and interact, with expressive motivations reinforcing instrumental goals (group identity and policy preferences) and instrumental considerations potentially overriding expressive desires in high-stakes decisions

Self-interest and societal concerns

  • Economic self-interest shapes individual political choices based on personal financial well-being and economic prospects, leading to support for policies that benefit one's income, employment, or industry, and sensitivity to tax rates, government spending, and redistribution
  • Social and cultural self-interest influences political attitudes and desires for policies that preserve one's way of life, values, and cultural traditions, particularly regarding social issues (abortion, same-sex marriage, gun rights) and protecting or promoting one's social group or identity
  • Sociotropic concerns consider broader societal or national well-being, evaluating the economy, national security, or public goods, and supporting policies perceived to benefit society as a whole
  • Altruism and empathy drive concern for the welfare of others, particularly disadvantaged groups, leading to willingness to bear personal costs for the benefit of society and support for policies that address inequality, poverty, or social justice
  • Ideology and values shape political choices through adherence to political ideologies (liberalism, conservatism), prioritization of core values (equality, liberty, tradition), and consistency between political choices and ideological or moral beliefs

Group Dynamics and Political Behavior

  • Political socialization is the process by which individuals develop their political attitudes, beliefs, and values through various agents such as family, education, media, and peer groups
  • Social identity theory explains how individuals' political choices are influenced by their membership in social groups and the desire to maintain a positive group identity
  • Groupthink can occur in political decision-making when the desire for group cohesion and consensus overrides critical thinking and consideration of alternative viewpoints
  • Political psychology examines how psychological factors, such as personality traits and cognitive processes, influence political behavior and decision-making
  • Agenda-setting by media and political elites can shape public opinion and political priorities by influencing which issues are considered important and how they are framed

Key Terms to Review (39)

Empirical Introduction,: An empirical introduction in the context of political science, especially when discussing political behavior as human behavior, refers to the use of observed and measurable evidence to understand and explain how humans make political decisions. This approach relies on data collection and analysis to predict patterns or trends in political behavior.
Political socialization: Political socialization is the process by which individuals learn and internalize the values, beliefs, and norms regarding political life and the political system from their surroundings, shaping their political attitudes and behaviors. It occurs throughout one’s life, starting in childhood, through various agents such as family, education systems, peer groups, media, and significant events.
Democratic liberalism: Democratic liberalism is a political ideology that combines the principles of democracy, such as majority rule and election of representatives, with liberal values like individual freedoms, equality, and protection of civil liberties. It advocates for a government system that ensures both the participation of citizens in decision-making processes and the protection of their rights and freedoms.
Kahneman: Daniel Kahneman is a psychologist known for his work on the psychology of judgment and decision-making, as well as behavioral economics, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2002. His research highlights how humans frequently make decisions that deviate from those predicted by standard economic theory due to cognitive biases and heuristic-driven errors.
Heuristics: Heuristics are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that help individuals make decisions and judgments quickly without having to stop and analyze every detail. In the context of political science, they help explain how people make political choices under conditions of uncertainty or complexity.
Thinking slow: Thinking slow is a cognitive process where individuals engage in deliberate, analytical, and effortful decision-making to understand complex political scenarios. This approach often involves weighing different options, considering long-term implications, and evaluating evidence systematically.
Irrational: In the context of political behavior, irrationality describes actions or decisions that do not follow logical reasoning or expected outcomes. It often involves emotional, psychological, or spontaneous factors influencing political choices contrary to what may be considered rational self-interest.
Jinping: In the context of political science, Jinping refers to Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and a central figure in contemporary Chinese political life. His leadership style and policies exemplify how individual leaders can shape political choices and influence national and international politics.
Thinking fast: Thinking fast is the process of making quick, often subconscious decisions based on instinct or immediate judgment rather than deliberate analysis. It involves using mental shortcuts, known as heuristics, to navigate complex political information and make choices under time pressure.
Agenda-setting theory: Agenda-setting theory suggests that the media doesn't tell us what to think, but rather what to think about by selecting which issues are important enough to receive news coverage. The amount and type of coverage an issue gets can influence the public's perception of its importance.
Social conservatism: Social conservatism is a political ideology focused on preserving traditional beliefs, values, and institutions, particularly regarding family structure, sexual norms, and national identity. It emphasizes moral standards and often opposes rapid change in social policies.
Morales: Morales are the personal values and ethical standards that influence an individual's choices and behaviors in the political arena. They serve as a guiding framework for decision-making, reflecting one's beliefs about right and wrong.
Party ID: Party ID represents an individual's affiliation with or loyalty to a political party, often shaping their political attitudes and voting behavior. It is one of the most stable identifiers in predicting how a person will vote.
Fake news: Fake news is intentionally false or misleading information presented as news to deceive the public. It often aims to influence political views or stir up controversy by spreading disinformation.
Confirmation Bias: Confirmation bias is the tendency for people to seek out, interpret, and prioritize information that confirms their existing beliefs or hypotheses, while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts them. This cognitive bias influences how individuals, groups, institutions, and international relations make political choices, as well as how public opinion is formed and how trust in the media is declining globally.
Affective Intelligence Theory: Affective intelligence theory is a model that explains how emotions influence political decision-making and behavior. It posits that emotional responses, particularly anxiety and enthusiasm, shape how individuals process political information and make political choices.
Economic Self-Interest: Economic self-interest refers to the human tendency to make decisions and choices that maximize one's own personal financial gain or economic benefit, often at the expense of the collective good. It is a key concept in understanding why individuals make the political choices they do.
Sociotropic Concerns: Sociotropic concerns refer to the tendency for individuals to base their political choices and attitudes on their perceptions of how political issues and outcomes will affect society as a whole, rather than solely on how those issues will impact them personally. This concept is particularly relevant in the context of understanding why humans make the political choices they do.
Social Identity Theory: Social Identity Theory is a psychological theory that explains how an individual's sense of self is shaped by the social groups they belong to. It suggests that people derive a significant part of their identity and self-esteem from the groups they identify with, and that this in turn influences their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors, including their political choices.
Socialization: Socialization is the process by which individuals acquire the knowledge, skills, values, and habits that enable them to function effectively within a particular society or group. It is a fundamental aspect of human development that shapes how individuals perceive the world, interact with others, and form their sense of identity and belonging.
Selective Exposure: Selective exposure is the tendency for people to favor information that confirms their existing beliefs and attitudes, while avoiding information that contradicts or challenges those beliefs. This concept is particularly relevant in the context of political decision-making, as individuals often seek out and consume media and information that aligns with their pre-existing political views and ideologies.
Expressive Motivations: Expressive motivations refer to the underlying psychological factors that drive individuals to make political choices based on their desire to express their values, beliefs, and identities, rather than solely on pragmatic considerations of policy outcomes or self-interest.
Political Psychology: Political psychology is the study of the psychological processes that influence political behavior and decision-making. It examines how cognitive, emotional, and social factors shape an individual's political attitudes, perceptions, and actions.
Cultural Self-Interest: Cultural self-interest refers to the tendency of individuals to make political choices that align with and promote the interests, values, and norms of their own cultural group or identity. It is a key factor in understanding why humans make the political decisions they do.
Satisficing: Satisficing is a decision-making strategy where an individual or organization sets a minimum acceptable standard and chooses the first option that meets or exceeds that standard, rather than attempting to identify an optimal solution. It is a concept that helps explain why humans make the political choices they do.
Altruism: Altruism is the unselfish concern for the welfare of others, often involving personal sacrifice for the benefit of another individual or group. It is a fundamental concept in understanding human behavior and political decision-making.
Rational Choice Theory: Rational choice theory is a framework in political science that assumes individuals make political decisions based on a rational assessment of the costs, benefits, and likely outcomes of their choices. It posits that people act in their own self-interest to maximize their personal utility or satisfaction.
Liberalism: Liberalism is a political and economic philosophy that emphasizes individual rights, civil liberties, democracy, and free market capitalism. It is a broad term that encompasses various schools of thought, but at its core, liberalism promotes the idea of limited government and the protection of individual freedoms. The principles of liberalism are central to understanding topics such as individuals, groups, and institutions in international relations, the factors that influence political choices, the social contract and the role of government, contemporary democratic ideologies, the formation of public opinion, and the worldviews that shape international political economy.
Groupthink: Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision-making outcome. It is a mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members' strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action.
Ideology: Ideology is a comprehensive set of beliefs, values, and ideas that shape an individual's or group's political, social, and economic views. It serves as a framework for understanding and interpreting the world, and it guides the choices and actions of those who hold it.
Bounded Rationality: Bounded rationality is the idea that when individuals make decisions, their rationality is limited by the information they have, the cognitive limitations of their minds, and the finite amount of time they have to make a decision. This concept suggests that people do not always make the optimal or most rational choice, but rather make decisions that are satisfactory given the constraints they face.
Cognitive Dissonance: Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced when an individual's beliefs, values, or behaviors are in conflict with one another. It occurs when people are presented with information that contradicts their existing beliefs, leading to a state of psychological tension as they struggle to reconcile the discrepancy.
Conservatism: Conservatism is a political ideology that emphasizes the preservation of traditional values, institutions, and social structures. It typically advocates for limited government, free-market economics, and the protection of individual liberties and private property rights.
Instrumental Motivations: Instrumental motivations refer to the idea that individuals make political choices based on the perceived benefits or costs of those choices. These motivations are driven by a desire to achieve specific outcomes or goals, rather than being based on moral principles or ideological beliefs.
Political Socialization: Political socialization is the process by which individuals acquire their political beliefs, values, and behaviors. It is the way people develop their political identity and learn how to participate in the political system. This term is closely connected to understanding why humans make the political choices they do, how human behavior is partially predictable, the importance of context for political decisions, the origins of public opinion, and the ways people become politically engaged.
Framing Effects: Framing effects refer to the way in which the presentation and context of information can influence people's perceptions, attitudes, and decisions. The way an issue or choice is framed can have a significant impact on how individuals perceive and respond to it, even when the underlying information remains the same.
Social Self-Interest: Social self-interest refers to the tendency of individuals to make political choices that prioritize their own social group's interests and well-being over the interests of society as a whole. It is a key concept in understanding why humans make the political choices they do.
Agenda-Setting: Agenda-setting is the process by which the media, through its selection and prominence of certain issues, influences the public's perception of what topics are important and worthy of attention. This concept connects to how humans make political choices, the importance of context in political decisions, the formation and influence of public opinion, and the role of the media in the political landscape.
Heuristics: Heuristics are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that people use to make decisions and judgments quickly without needing extensive information or analysis. These cognitive strategies simplify complex problems, allowing individuals to navigate political choices and human behavior with greater efficiency, though they can also lead to systematic biases or errors in judgment.