ATS2256 - Political psychology - 2019

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit




Organisational Unit

Politics and International Relations

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Matteo Bonotti


Dr Matteo Bonotti

Unit guides



  • Second semester 2019 (On-campus)


This unit offers a broad overview of political psychology, and introduces a new perspective on how to understand the political world around us. The objectives of the unit are to first introduce students to key concepts from psychology that are relevant to politics (e.g., personality, social identity, the dynamics of social groups, the role of emotions, etc.), and second, to apply these concepts to various topics within political science, including leadership, race and inter-group relations, the formation of opinions and ideologies, political violence, media and political advertising, etc.


  1. Understand broad findings from psychology (and other related disciplines) and be able to apply them to political science questions;
  2. Understand the complex interplay between psychological factors, social context, and politics;
  3. Apply relevant theories in order to explain and predict political behaviour.


Within semester assessment: 60% + Exam: 40%

Workload requirements


See also Unit timetable information

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study