Week 3 Political Psychology Flashcards
Foreign policy analysis
first and foremost interested in explaining how and why decisions came about in foreign policy. FPA plays an emphasis on the people involved in the decision making.
Theory’s of foreign policy
No real theory of foreign policy but uses: realism, liberalism, constructivism and marxism
Realism for foreign policy
A state’s foreign policy is conditioned by its position within the international system
Liberalism for foreign policy
It is in the self-interest of states to cooperate with eachother
Constructivism for foreign policy
Intersubjectively created social norms and values explain the behavior of actors in the international system. They question the very existence of such concepts as anarchy and argue that these concepts reflect our own understandings of IR.
Marxism for foreign policy
Would explain foreign policy decisions in terms of economic interests and conflicts within and between states.
Democratic peace argument
Like minded liberal states would have peaceful relations with each other
Othering
refers to a process in which one group of people or individual is categorized as fundamentally different compared to another group.
Nuemans understanding of IR
Constructions between relations of self and other
Three main information-processing failures that can distort group decision making processes and can lead to negative outcomes
- Failure to search for and share information
- Failure to elaborate on and analyze information that is not in line with earlier information.
- Failure to revise and update conclusions and policies in the light of new information.
Authoritarian personality theory
- Obey authority
- Be hostile towards lower status
- Have rigid, traditional values
Focus points of political psychology over time
1940s-50s: psycho analysis (personality traits of leaders and masses)
1960s-70s: Behavioralism (public opinion and voting behavior)
1980s-90s: Cognitive approaches (decision making, information processing, focus on political elites)
2000s- onwards: emotions and neurobiology (focus on mass public)
Milgram experiment
Humans follow orders, not just personality.
Deindividuation
Individuals behave differently in groups, don’t see themselves as individuals.
Deindividuation behavior
Increased sense of excitement
Anonymity
Reduced sense of responsibility
Structure-agency debate
simplest form attempts to analyse if people shape society or society shapes people. Revolves around the extent to which human behavior is determined by social structures.
