Introduction to Political Psychology: 2nd Edition - Softcover

Cottam, Martha L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0805837701 ISBN 13: 9780805837704

Publisher: Psychology Press, 2004

Synopsis

The first comprehensive textbook on political psychology, this user-friendly volume explores the psychological origins of political behavior. Using psychological concepts to explain types of political behavior, the authors introduce a broad range of theories and cases of political activity to illustrate the behavior. The book examines many patterns of political behaviors including leadership, group behavior, voting, race, ethnicity, nationalism, political extremism, terrorism, war, and genocide.  Text boxes highlight current and historical events to help students see the connection between the world around them and the concepts they are learning. Examples highlight a variety of research methodologies used in the discipline such as experimentation and content analysis. The "Political Being" is used throughout to remind the reader of the psychological theories and concepts to be explored in each chapter. Introduction to Political Psychology explores some of the most horrific things people do to one another for political purposes, as well as how to prevent and resolve conflict, and how to recover from it. The goal is to help the reader understand the enormous complexity of human behavior and the significant role political psychology can play in improving the human condition.

Designed for upper division courses on political psychology or political behavior, this volume also contains material of interest to those in the policymaking community.

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Thomas Preston received his M.A. at the University of Essex and his Ph.D. from Ohio State University. A specialist in security policy, foreign affairs, and political psychology, Preston joined Washington State University in 1994. He teaches undergraduate courses on international relations, U.S. foreign policy, U.S. national security policy, and Russian politics. At the graduate level, he offers courses in international security and the psychology of leadership and decision making. He is the author of The President and His Inner Circle: Leadership Style and the Advisory Process in Foreign Affairs and numerous refereed journal articles and book chapters on leadership and foreign policy analysis. He is currently working on a second book, From Lambs to Lions: Nuclear and Biological Weapon Proliferation's Impact on Future Interstate Security Relationships.

Review

If you have been searching for a textbook to introduce students to political psychology, search no more! This book not only helps students learn why people matter in politics but does so in a stimulating and thought-provoking manner.
—Dr. Peg Hermann
Syracuse University

...It covers the field in a way few do or can and shows how political psychology has been applied to solve real world problems. The quality of the scholarship is high....It provides in one book an introduction to all of the major theoretical themes and many interesting and important substantive areas of application.
—Dr. Richard K. Hermann
Ohio State University

This book will be of immense help to the instructor of introductory political psychology. It is well written, interesting, and covers a spate of topics rarely included in a single volume...
—Dr. Joshua Rabinowitz
California State University, Northridge

Edition details

• Publisher: Psychology Press
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0805837701
• ISBN 13: 9780805837704
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 360