Political Psychology essays

Political Psychology essays Psychology has played an integral part in the scope of politics throughout history, from ancient times, through World Wars, and probably even more so, through the present day American government and all of its political scandals. In a broad sense, politics are the acts or practices of those individuals who seek any position of power or advantage. The psychology of politics refers to an individuals concerns, his conceptions, his reactions, and his responses to his, and in a sense, others political experience and behavior. Political behavior includes all of an individuals activity that is directed toward a solution of the problems of daily living. Quite possibly, the most important thing for any politician, or any leader for that matter, to gain, and maintain, is control over those that this person wishes to govern or rule. Control can be gained in a number of ways; through coercion, persuasion, and even fear, to name a few. Since politics is an aspect of control, there is a relation between coercion and politics. There are various theories that coercion is the main characteristic of politics. There are two steps in the use of coercion to control. First, the politician or leader must induce in the person or group that he is looking to control, a severe discomfort, such as, injury, either to them or objects or things that they would consider dear or important to themselves. Second, he must convince the person or group, that the only way to lessen the discomfort is to comply or conform to a course of behavior as set by the politician or leader. Because of the potential for severe discomfort, coercion has a large effect o n the psyche. This model, though not as readily used now, was very present and widely used, especially in Nazi Germany, under Adolf Hitler, and in Russia, under Josef Stalin. This model is what is commonly known at totalitarianism. The object of the totalitarian government is simple: to contro ...