Political Psychology & Electoral Behaviour

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Demonstrate adaptability, resilience, and intercultural awareness in academic and professional settings.
• Communicate effectively to diverse audiences through written, oral, and digital means.
• Apply problem-solving, decision-making, and critical reflection to complex issues.
• Manage time, projects, and resources effectively to meet deadlines.
• Work independently and collaboratively, exercising initiative and leadership in group contexts.

Disciplinary Specific Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply disciplinary concepts of identity, emotions, ideology, stereotypes, decision making, information processing, gendered biases, intersectionality, to analyse and understand political-psychological and electoral phenomena.
• Political Psychology & Electoral Behaviour specialized pathway: Analyse the psychological underpinnings of voter behaviour, leadership, and crisis decision-making.
• Integrate interdisciplinary insights (e.g. psychology, political science) into political analysis, demonstrating the breadth and flexibility of the discipline.
• Reflect critically on the evolution of the discipline of political psychology and its relevance to contemporary political, social, and global challenges.
• Critically evaluate competing theories and approaches in political psychology, including normative, empirical, and behavioural traditions.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply problem-solving skills to real-world political psychology challenges through simulations, debates, and applied coursework.
• Prepare professional outputs including policy briefs, reports, and advisory documents for different audiences.
• Communicate research findings effectively through oral presentations, digital media, and written reports tailored to academic, policy, and public audiences.
• Engage with practitioners, stakeholders, and research centres to integrate academic knowledge with applied practice.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critical understanding of political decisions and behaviors through the lens of theories of social and political psychology
• Critically analyse and interpret political concepts, theories, and evidence related to political psychology and electoral behavior
• Formulate reasoned arguments and communicate them effectively in both oral and written forms.
• Engage in comparative political analysis across different systems, cases, and cultures.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Specialized knowledge of major theories and debates in political psychology and electoral behavior
• Theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in political science, including political psychology, electoral behaviour, comparative politics, public policy, international relations, and security studies.
• Research design principles, data collection methods, and both qualitative and quantitative approaches in political research.
• Empirical evidence drawing on quantitative and qualitative data addressing pressing puzzles of political psychology and electoral behavior in the UK and the world.

The topics listed below are indicative rather than exhaustive and are intended to illustrate the range and breadth of material covered in the module. The precise focus, sequencing, and emphasis of topics may vary from year to year to reflect staff expertise, student interests, and developments in the field. – Introduction to Political Psychology Defining political psychology and its relevance to political science. Historical evolution and key paradigms: behaviouralism, cognitive approaches, and the affective revolution. Overview of the links between individual psychology and collective political outcomes. – Political Attitudes, Beliefs, and Ideology The formation, structure, and stability of political attitudes. Ideology, value systems, and moral foundations theory. Cognitive consistency and motivated reasoning. Measurement of attitudes and ideological orientations. – Personality and Politics The role of personality traits (Big Five, authoritarianism, social dominance orientation) in shaping political preferences. Personality and leadership styles, the rise of authoritarian leaders. Empirical evidence linking personality to political participation and ideology. – Emotion and Political Behaviour Emotional processes in political decision-making. Anxiety, anger, resentment, hope, and enthusiasm in the context of voting and partisanship. Emotion-based campaign strategies. – Cognition, Information, and Decision-Making Cognitive heuristics, biases, and information processing. Political knowledge and misinformation. Rational choice vs. bounded rationality. The role of media and social networks in cognitive framing. – Social Identity and Group Dynamics Social identity theory and its application to political affiliation. In-group/out-group dynamics and intergroup conflict. Nationalism, populism, and identity politics. Case studies on identity mobilisation. – Political Communication and Persuasion Psychological mechanisms of persuasion, priming, and framing. Campaign communication, message framing, and narrative strategies. The role of political advertising and social media. Workshop: analysing real campaign materials. – Electoral Behaviour and Voting Psychology Models of voting behaviour: sociological, psychological, and rational choice. Turnout and abstention: psychological determinants. Short-term vs. long-term influences on vote choice. Case analysis: recent national or international elections. – Leadership and Political Elites Psychological profiling of political leaders. Charisma, trust, confidence, and moral leadership. Crisis decision-making and stress. – Gender and Political Behaviour Gender differences in political attitudes, participation, and leadership. Stereotypes, bias, and media representation of female and non-binary politicians. The psychology of gender identity and its intersection with ideology. Gendered emotional expectations and leadership evaluations. Workshop: analysing gender and emotion in campaign coverage. - Political Extremism and Radicalisation Psychological roots of political extremism and radicalisation. The role of identity threat, grievances, and cognitive closure. Online radicalisation and echo chambers. Interventions and deradicalisation strategies. – Integrative Themes and Dissertation Preparation Revisiting key debates and integrating theory, data, and application. Linking political psychology to electoral and policy research. Identifying dissertation topics and methodological approaches. Final reflections and consolidation.

Teaching and learning on this module combine research-led lectures, interactive seminars, and applied exercises to promote critical understanding of how psychological processes shape political attitudes and behaviour. - Lectures introduce and contextualise key theories, models, and empirical research in political psychology and electoral behaviour. - Seminars provide space for in-depth discussion, debate, and the application of psychological concepts to contemporary political cases. You will critically evaluate academic studies and reflect on methodological and ethical issues. - In-class workshops and hands-on sessions focus on practical analysis of voter data, campaign materials, and leadership case studies, allowing you to connect theory to empirical evidence. - Independent study is supported through directed readings and exercises enabling you to consolidate knowledge and link individual-level psychology with collective political phenomena. - Guest sessions from researchers and practitioners representing University of Southampton Research Centres provide insight into the use of psychological principles in campaign strategy, communication, and governance. This module combines theory-driven instruction, applied learning, and reflective engagement. It develops your analytical and interpretive abilities, preparing you for advanced research and policy-oriented careers.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.