Research

Written by Derek

2009-02-16

Political Psychology

Most scientists devote their studies to one animal species among billions, the homo sapiens. This species, our own species, is the most complex in natural history, particularly with regard to neurology. Its social cognition and social behaviors are unparalleled among animals, living or extinct. A core institution of the human sociology is politics. Indeed, the institution is so important that we have devoted a discipline to its study. It is, therefore, naturally incumbent upon political scientists to explain how individuals relate to the political world. Over the past three decades, however, the discipline has largely ignored individual-level processes while focusing on sociopolitical outcomes in the aggregate. My aim is to comprehend the formation of ideological identity in young adults. Both Lane and Erikson cite early adulthood as the critical period for ideological self-identification. In particular, I am interested in how different institutions help shape the constellation of beliefs and values with which young adults identify.

Civil War

Download my Masters Thesis, presented at APSA 2005, "Illegal Armed Group Survival in Colombia."