Political Psychology Quiz

A theory that assumes voters are rational and aim to maximize their benefit by choosing candidates who offer favorable outcomes.

Voters tend to re-elect politicians when the economy is doing well, suggesting that voters reward competence.

The theory that people cast their votes based on their own personal economic situations, especially local conditions.

The tendency for voters to give more weight to economic conditions in their local community than to national averages.

People are more likely to vote for incumbents when the economy is performing well. This suggests that voters are rewarding competence.

Voters are less likely to support a candidate simply because of positive outcomes that were beyond their control.

A model that challenges the idea of fully rational voter behavior, suggesting that emotions, biases, and other non-rational factors influence political decisions.

The idea that people are motivated by emotional and symbolic expressions of their values and beliefs, even if they don't directly benefit from those choices.

Voters tend to focus on the performance of specific markets, especially in communities that heavily rely on those markets. This can result in strong reactions to market booms and busts, which can influence voting patterns.

This tenet of the rational voter model posits that voters should not be swayed by random events that are outside the politician's control. Instead, they should judge based on the politician's actions and policies.

Studies have shown that voters reward politicians when their local sports teams win in the days leading up to an election. This suggests that voters are influenced by irrelevant events, even if they don't reflect the politician's performance.

Research has highlighted that voters can be influenced by natural disasters like droughts, floods, and even shark attacks, punishing incumbents for these events even if they have no control over them.

Even though voters reward competence and success, they also often reward or punish politicians based on luck and random events, suggesting that voter behavior is not always entirely rational.

People often hold strong and abstract social and political beliefs, such as valuing tradition over change, or accepting vs. rejecting hierarchy. Ideally, these beliefs should guide our political choices.

The rational voter model suggests that people can effectively choose policies that are aligned with their abstract values. However, evidence suggests that the connection between values and policy choices might be weak or nonexistent, challenging the idea of a fully rational voter.

Political beliefs and values that form a coherent system, including views on issues like immigration, taxation, and welfare, as well as broader underlying values like traditionalism or universalism.

A range of political viewpoints spanning from left to right, based on differing perspectives on social change and order.

Individuals and groups who hold beliefs and values closer to the 'left' side of the political spectrum, typically advocating for progressive social change.

Individuals and groups who hold beliefs and values closer to the 'right' side of the political spectrum, often emphasizing tradition, limited government intervention, and individual responsibility.

The process of acquiring beliefs and values from family, friends, education, and other social influences.

The impact of public officials, influential figures, and media on shaping public opinion and political beliefs.

Economic considerations, such as personal financial interests, that can influence voting decisions.

The influence of religious beliefs and values on political attitudes, often leading to more conservative stances on social issues.

The feeling of vulnerability and anxiety caused by awareness of death. It is a fundamental human experience that can influence our beliefs and behaviors.

A psychological tendency to actively seek out and engage with cognitively stimulating information. Individuals with high NFC prefer tasks that involve thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving.

The degree to which someone is willing to embrace new experiences, ideas, and perspectives. Individuals high in openness are often curious, imaginative, and adventurous.

Exposure to threats, like terrorism or social unrest, that can trigger existential anxieties and shape political views.

The tendency to seek out clear, certain, and unambiguous information. Individuals with a high need for closure prefer to avoid ambiguity and uncertainty, often resorting to simplified solutions and established norms.

Beliefs and judgments about the world, often formed based on personal experiences, emotions, and values.

A psychological need for order, structure, stability, and predictability in life; often associated with conservative political views.

A measure of individuals' preference for order, structure, and predictability within their surroundings. People with strong needs for order and structure are likely to endorse conservative viewpoints.

A psychological need for safety and security, driven by anxieties about threats and uncertainty; often associated with conservative political views.

The perception that the world is a dangerous and unpredictable place, filled with threats and competition. Individuals with a strong belief in a dangerous world are likely to favor conservative policies.

A psychological state characterized by a sense that external events are unpredictable and beyond one's control. This can trigger a desire for order and security, potentially leading to a preference for conservative viewpoints.

The tendency for people to favor their own group or social identity over outsiders, often fueled by biases and stereotypes.

The claim that political ideology is rooted in genetics and physiology, suggesting that our predispositions to political views are partly inherited.

A psychological state that arises when individuals feel threatened or vulnerable. This can lead to a desire for safety and security, potentially explaining the association between threat and heightened conservatism.

The potential for researchers' own values and beliefs to influence their scientific findings, leading to biased interpretations or conclusions.

The tendency for individuals to express more politically conservative views when they are under time pressure or experiencing distraction. This suggests a link between cognitive processing constraints and conservative preferences.

A technique that focuses on persuading people by appealing to their moral values, taking into account that liberals prioritize fairness and harm, while conservatives prioritize authority, loyalty, and purity.

False information presented as true, often stemming from mistakes or intentional manipulation.

Strategies to decrease the likelihood of individuals falling prey to misinformation, like presenting contradicting evidence from a trustworthy source.

A technique that involves presenting weak versions of misleading information, aiming to build resistance to stronger forms of misinformation.

A type of inoculation that focuses on exposing individuals to common tactics used by misinformation campaigns, such as using misleading claims or authority figures to manipulate people.

The process of encouraging individuals to shift from automatic, intuitive thinking (System 1) to more deliberate, analytical thinking (System 2) when evaluating information.

People are less likely to believe misinformation if it is presented in a way that contradicts their personal interests.

Strategies to promote critical thinking and reduce misinformation susceptibility, by providing compelling alternatives and making accurate information more engaging.