Political Psychology in Europe: Advances, Theoretical Debates and Empirical Applications

This section, sponsored by the Political Psychology Standing Group, surveys important topics in political psychology research in Europe following the successful tradition of the 2011, 2012, 2009, 2007, and 2005 ECPR conferences in Bordeaux, Reykjavik, Potsdam, Pisa, and Budapest respectively. Goal of the section is to address the psychological aspects of public opinion, political preferences, identity and conflict, hosting panels with theoretically driven empirical research papers from senior and junior international scholars. The section invites research-based papers investigating the following topics: personality in politics, political ambition and motives, political decision-making, political scandals, political marketing, political communication and the Internet, leadership and policy fiasco’s, political knowledge, party or candidate preference, political opinions, political values, political emotions, and neuropolitics. In addition, the section invites papers on political socialization structures and processes, political identity development, political distrust and cynicism, political violence and terrorism, multiculturalism, fanaticism, group identifications, and civic competence. The purpose of the section is to further scientific discussion and research across all national scientific communities in Europe on the above topics. Upon completion of the conference, the Political Psychology section intents to proceed with a publication of selected papers from the panels below, as the second volume of work on Advances in in European Political Psychology (first volume is currently in press with Palgrave Publishers).