POLITICAL BEHAVIOR An Inter-disciplinary Study POLITICAL BEHAVIOR Politics in micro and macro levels of social life Individual strategies for cooperation, conflict resolution, pursuing interests, even strategies towards family members and relatives As the social surrounding grows bigger, individuals’ choices, attitudes and behaviors become more “political” in its true meaning THE INDIVIDUAL The political orientations, selfidentifications, ideals, principles and ideologies of the individual towards the social surrounding constitute an important theme of our subject (political behavior). The discipline of political psychology THE GROUP Individual’s self-identification with a political group via membership to or orientation (indirect support...etc) towards a political party, political organization or movement. The discipline of political sociology WHEN DISCIPLINES COINCIDE The political choices and behaviors of the individual may not always present a stable and continuous character May go through changes, developments and transformations in time depending on many different situations and factors. WHEN DISCIPLINES COINCIDE Apart from these, the political behavior of the individual may present a double or multi-character way DETERMINANTS OF POLITICAL BEHAVIOR The family Family traditions in politics The orientation and education by the family elders Charism of a family elder who is taken by the child as a model or idol Another interdisciplinary contribution in terms of a ne problematic: the genetics of political behavior. MORE BIOLOGY, MORE SOCIOLOGY Age groups and differing intensivities in the political sphere Youth and popular culture Aged people and political participation as a citizenship duty The gender side FACTORS WITHIN THE SOCIAL SURROUNDING Education sphere: teachers and school-mates as political orientators Class belonging and political behavior Mass media and public opinion The neighborhood effect FACTORS WITHIN THE SOCIAL SURROUNDING Ethnicity, ethnic identities, racism, xenophobia Crime, terror and prejudicial behavior Immigrants and political behavior Religious affiliation Kinship ties and political behavior Clientalism and politics POLITICAL FACTORS Leader charism and political choice Political propaganda and its influence MOST VISIBLE MEASUREMENT OF POLITICAL BEHAVIOR Elections and voting Election campaigns Electoral Systems PART I THE INFLUENCE OF GENETICS ON POLITICAL ORIENTATION AND BEHAVIOR GENETICS&SOCIAL SCIENCES The increase in the use of genetic explanations for human characteristics and conditions over the last few decades The academic search for the influence of genetic factors to explain the differences and varieties in humans’ psychological and behavioral characteristics such as violence, tolerance, intelligence and sexual orientation (straight&gay) MAIN PROBLEMATICS Can people be born with political predispositions? Does political orientation have a hereditary characteristic? Is it genes or the early childhood experiences within the family which are more influential on the development of political attitudes? MAIN PROBLEMATICS Which factor is the most influential one on political orientation: Genes? Socialisation within the family? or the social environment? (friends, education, business environment...) THE NATURE vs. NURTURE DEBATE Recent studies claiming that genetics is highly influential on the formation of political orientations, attitudes and behavior Academic response to these studies and claims, emphasizing the importance of the environment (political attitudes as learned elements, rather than genetically transmitted ones) A TURNING POINT WITHIN OUR SUBJECT The Bell Curve, Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray (1994) The authors argued that intelligence largely determined success in life, and intelligence was largely genetic in origin. THE BELL CURVE The authors also argued that IQs of Black Americans were lower on average than IQs of the Whites. So, differences in life chances between Blacks and Whites were driven by genes, with intelligence as the mediating factor Authors even recommended the welfare and reproductive policies of the US be changed in order to decrease the number of children born to lower class (and lower IQ) women THE BELL CURVE The book led to great debates among academics, media and even politicians, either supporting or condemning these propositions A social-Darwinist approach Those who are in favour of such an approach where survival of the fittest is welcomed, tend to be conservatives in ideological terms (Hofstadter, 1944) THE CONSERVATIVE&LIBERAL DEBATE Does political ideology play a role in determining how people feel about genetic explanations for human characteristics? Do conservative and liberal people have different attitudes towards the genetic explanations of human characteristics? ASSUMPTIONS Conservatives are more likely to endorse genetic explanations for human characteristics related to socioeconomic inequality Liberals are more likely to endorse environmental explanations for those characteristics ASSUMPTIONS ON CONSERVATIVES The idea of genetic influence on human characteristics is in accordance with the conservative principles Historical background: The Feudal and Monarchic Ages: Monarchs and the nobility with an hereditary character No social mobility between seperate classes and life-long membership to the class one is born into ASSUMPTIONS ON CONSERVATIVES Theological Background: Middle-Age scolastical thought: Accepting the consequences of your destiny which is labeled on you even before birth and not challenging the conditions brought forth by this destiny (God’s Plan) ASSUMPTIONS ON THE LIBERALS Liberal Principles: equality, humans as valuable beings, freedom of choice It is the social environment that influences the attitudes and behaviors of an individual, regarding the fact that he/she is free make the choices that is most fit for him/her ONE EXCEPTION Do genes have an influence on determining sexual orientation? Conservatives are more likely to reject the role of genes and instead to favor the influence of the environment. Because, conservative thought can not allow the possibility that God created human beings in those sexual orientations such as gays and lesbians (the Creator would not create people with such defections , rather people choose to become homosexual under the influence of environmental factors) THE INFLUENCE OF IDEOLOGY The responses of people towards genetical explanations of human nature change according to different ideological orientations This situation is closely linked to the conservative/liberal conceptions of state intervention on certain grounds IDEOLOGY AND STATE INTERVENTION- The US MODEL Political conservatism in the US is associated with a desire for small government and a lcak of government intervention in the lives of the citizens WHEREAS Political liberalism in the US is associated with a desire for government intervention to adress societal problems (poverty, immigrant policy, welfare state policies...etc) CONSERVATIVE ATTITUDE If socio-economic differences are primarily driven by inequalities of genetic endowment, then government policies and programs would not be effective to remedy them. So, support for a small, limited government (conservatism) is the most practical position CONSERVATIVE ATTITUDE American Conservatives (as well as those in Western Europe) criticise most welfare policies of the state as of being in the advantage of the immigrants, minorities, people of lower classes...etc. So, financial funding of these policies is a burden on the true! citizens of the country LIBERAL ATTITUDE Welfare policies should exist to protect the disadvantaged masses in order to remedy inequalities of opportunities and access to public services. State intervention is welcomed by the American liberals on this issue. If socio-economic inequalities result from environmental factors, then environmental support such as education and social aids would help to remedy these inequalities POLITICAL TRADITION Many theorists (Rousseau,Marx...) argued that government has a moral obligation to remedy systematic inequalities brought about by societal forces. Others like Plato, Aristotle and E. Burke argued that the inequalities created by nature (God) should be allowed to flourish, not be got rid of (the underlying principle of natural selection) EXCEPTION OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION MATTER Conservatives in favour of a government control on homosexual orientations Liberals in favour of a limited government staying out of the citizens’ bedrooms POLITICAL SOCIALISATION Leaving behind the genetic side of the story, an analysis of the process namely “political socialisation” is necessary for determining the factors influential on the formation of political behaviors of the individuals Man is both a social animal and a political animal POLITICAL SOCIALISATION The process of adopting the political beliefs, values and attitudes The environment as a tutor Life-long learning: gaining political knowledge and experience at any age A multi-level process Different factors and conditions at each level CHILDHOOD PERIOD The development of a selfconsciousness The development of personality Development of intelligence Development of certain attitudes and reactions both at emotional and cognitive sides, towards different conditions TEENHOOD PERIOD A transitionary period from childhood to adulthood Pyschological, biological and social changes A process whereby the individuals’ social, cognitive and political development is carried out on the road to adulthood TEENHOOD PERIOD The ego-centric condition of teens Aiming to ensure the acceptance of their beliefs, ideas or judgements by others, mostly via debates or arguements Ups & downs: the inconsistency in supporting ideals and beliefs The long-run outcome of teen egocentrism: idealism TEENHOOD SOCIALISATION The ultimate function of socialisation is to ensure the adoption of social roles consistent with the social norms The transmission of social norms, values and beliefs Four different possible reactions of teens towards this transmission process: FIRST TYPE OF REACTION The teen adopts the cultural patterns transmitted from the social environment and becomes an obedient and adaptable member of the society SECOND TYPE OF REACTION The teen challenges all cultural effects from the social environment. Seeks new values and aims. Shows disloyalty towards the agents of authority or status quo: parents, teachers...etc Such teens are more likely to become influenced by non-mainstream or radical political ideologies THIRD TYPE OF REACTION The teen shows little or no interest in the cultural transmissions from the social environment. Can not fully comprehend the common values and aims shared by the members of society. Dislikes the social order, but also finds him/herself too weak to alter or cure the social order. Thus mostly develops an anti-social or passive-defensive personality FOURTH TYPE OF REACTION The teen establishes realist, constructive and positive realionships and makes rational choices on adapting the new knowledge acquired from the social environment, thus becomes a “model citizen” CONFLICTS WITH PARENTS In search of his/her own self, the teen is generally motivated towards being freed from the influence of the parents and this generally leads to conflictual situations This conflictual attitude may also be directed towards elder members of the extended family,teachers, neighbors... The individualisation of the teen: becoming a personality THE DILEMMA OF TEEN SOCIALISATION The teen, while aiming to acquire social acceptance and admiration by developing an unique identity and, at the same time, by being integrated to the bundle of norms, values and beliefs dominant in the social environment THE IDOL FACTOR Patterns of roles, attitudes and beliefs of an idol or model, mostly an elder within the social environment (a relative, a neighbor, a teacher...), being adopted by the teen during the process of developing a personality, and the process of political socialisation and orientation as well POLITICAL SOCIALISATION The individual establishes emotional and cognitive relations with the political structure via elements such as national flag,state, nation...etc during childhood These relationships are based on mostly elementary and material systems of thought POLITICAL SOCIALISATION During teenhood, the ability to think abstractly is gained. So, the teen can from now on perceive political matters not only on material, but also presumptive grounds. Combining the theoretical outcomes of both material and abstract thought, the teen will find his/her place within the political system POLITICAL SOCIALISATION Life-long learning in the political arena: in addition to the family an school, new sources of political knowledge will be available to the teen: friends, NGOs, means of mass communication...etc. This increase at the cognitive level of the teen will contribute to the development of political beliefs and attitudes POLITICAL SOCIALISATION The tendency of teens towards nonmainstream or radical political movements generally depends on personal and social motives: developing a self-identity and the social acceptance and admiration gained by means of performing the social roles assigned by this identity. ADULTHOOD PERIOD Age factor New social roles and statues such as being married, having a job, having children... Another change of roles in terms of socialisation: the adult, while he/she was a socialised element, turns into a socialising factor for the children, youth...etc in the new social environments RE-SOCIALISATION Another type of socialisation mostly observed since the early periods of adulthood Transformations in terms of belief, ideological orientation, attitudes...etc which may alter the previously dominant factors of political behavior due to the relationships, experiences and knowledge established and gained during adulthood RE-SOCIALISATION While the society influences the individual in terms of gaining these beliefs, attitudes...,the individual also influences the society in a similar way But, it is mostly a dynamic process, not a stable one, changing according to the environment Traditional vs. Modern societies (Duverger) THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL BEHAVIOR According to Rosenberg, individuals go through a three-dimensional development process: Contiguous Linear Systematic CHANGING SOCIAL CONDITIONS DURING ADULTHOOD • • Changing social conditions and the adoption of new social roles may alter the determinants of political behavior and lead to transformations Idealism vs. Realism INSTITUTIONS OF POLITICAL SOCIALISATON The family as the primary institution The monopoly of the family in determining the early tendencies towards political orientation (both at emotional and cognitive levels) First impressions of the child on political figures and matters are developed within the family environment THE FAMILY Direct influence of the family (direct political socialisation) Indirect influence of the family (indirect political socialisation) Transmission of political attitudes, ideologies, party identification and class consciousness Family traditions in politics THE ATTITUDES OF THE PARENTS Parents applying authoritarian or democratic ways of raising their children Differing influences and outcomes of differing raising methods Idols or models within the family and political orientation THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT Teachers as new symbols of authority outside the family environment School mates Cognitive developments during education (accumulation of knowledge) School as an ideological state apparatus MASS COMMUNICATION MEANS Radio, TV, newspapers, internet... Mass media as cognitive sources of political behavior Social roles presented via media,especially TV Media as a means of political propaganda THE FRIENDS FACTOR Friendship ties and relations within friend groups constituting an environment whereby determinants of political behavior are influenced, altered and developed Friends both as cognitive and emotional sources THE COMMUNITY EFFECT Various communities we belong to or feel a belonging to Variety of communities: where and whom we work, live, socialize and worship...(city community, church community, work community...) SENSE OF COMMUNITY A feeling that members have a belonging, a feeling that members matter to one another and to the group, and a shared faith that members’ needs will be met through their commitment together Sense of community changes from individual to individual, as well as from group to group (diversity of groups and changing levels of attachment within communities) COMMUNITY AND POLITICAL BEHAVIOR Social interactions within the community play an important role in determining our political choices and behavior. There are two types of political behavior influenced by community interactions: Political discussion Voting behavior POLITICAL DISCUSSION Political discussion as a way of socialisation Political discussion as a social interaction which provides information about political matters Observing and communicating with other members of the community may influence political decisions Political discussion as a by-product of social interaction COMMUNITY and VOTING Information gained via community interaction influencing voting behavior Collective political behavior developed within the community due to common interests,goals... The communal leader factor Politicised communities/political communities/political identities COMMUNITY and VOTING Changing voting behavior due to different types of elections: General elections Local elections Elections on communal affairs PARTY IDENTIFICATION Identifying oneself via membership or support to any political party The party becoming a symbolizer or determinant of political identity The party as a means of socialisation The party as a means of collective action and group consciousness Partisanship: extreme form of party identification PARTY IDENTIFICATION According to the general framework of sociology, social characteristics (class,ethnicity,gender,race…) anchor political preferences The Marxist view of party identification based on class consciousness THE AMERICAN VOTER Published in 1960 by Angus Campbell, Philip Converse, Warren Miller and Donald Stokes, it was the first comprehensive study on party identification. It proposed a social-psychological thery of party identification. THE AMERICAN VOTER Party identification is a long-term psychological attachment to a party. It develops early in one’s life and is influenced by institutions of political socialisation such as the family Over time, this feeling of attachment turns into an emotional and mostly stable one. THE AMERICAN VOTER Since party identification influences people’s evaluations of political issues,candidates and political events, it plays a fundamental role in their choice of vote. Party identification is stable except when large-scale political events or stressful conditions such as depressions occur (The 2001 economic depression in Turkey) RESPONSES TO THE AMERICAN VOTER The instrumental view of party identification: Party attachment is an information shortcut that is continually and updated and adjusted based on rational evaluation (Bartels, Franklin and Jackson) The influence of rational choice is stressed when compared to emotional attachments THE INDIVIDUAL RATIONALITY FRAMEWORK The economic concept of utility maximization Adaptation of this concept to party identification The assumption that all individuals can behave and choose rationally RATIONAL VOTERS A rational person: 1) Can always make a decision when confronted with alternatives 2) Ranks all the alternatives according to preference, inferiority… 3) Always chooses from among the possible alternatives 4) Always makes the same choices when confronted with the same alternatives SPATIAL MODEL Developed by Anthony Downs Political parties lure voters on an ideological continuum (left-right) Issue positions on this continuum placed by the parties or candidates are considered by voters A rational voter chooses by calculating which candidate’s or party’s issue position is closest to his ideal point of utility on the ideological continuum SPATIAL MODEL Comparisons of utility Parties’ over-time ratings (evaluation of past activities and policies) VALENCE ISSUES MODEL Developed by Donald Stokes Valence issues involve comparative judgements about party performance in certain areas (economy, human rights…etc) Changing perception of valence issues from individual to individual is an important factor in determining partisanship and voting behavior REWARD-PUNISHMENT MODEL Developed by V.O. Key Voters either rewarding or punishing their party in the elections due to their satisfaction with the party’s policies and past activities ISSUE PRIORITY MODEL Parties developing policy agendas over certain issues and even claim issue ownership This issue ownership becomes widely recognized by voters and they vote according to their issue priorities ECONOMIC EVALUATION MODELS Voters’ evaluation of economic conditions Egocentric considerations / sociotropic ones Self interested utility maximizing individuals/ voters interested in the welfare of the society as a whole Past/future-oriented economic evaluations RACE, ETHNICITY AND POLITICAL BEHAVIOR Ethnic identities playing an important role in shaping political decisions and actions Us and the others Collective political behavior of politicised ethnic groups Ethnic or racial prejudices as determinants of political behavior CASE STUDY: 2008 US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS Obama’s candidacy for presidency and the racial dimension of US politics and social life Support of the race groups for Obama: Whites: %43 Blacks: %95 Hispanics: %67 VIEWS ON WHITE SUPPORT FOR OBAMA Supporting Obama in terms of escaping the stigmata of racism Obama’s self-introduction of being centrist and post-racial The economic crisis caused Americans to realize that they could not evaluate the candidates on the basis of race ATTITUDES OF OTHER RACE GROUPS Black support for Obama: the one in a million chance to provide Black presence in US administration Hispanics:mostly belonging to lower classes and falling victim to racial prejudices, Obama’s presidency is a hope for social and economic policies in their advantage RACISM IN THE USA Historical racism and anti-Black sentiments in the USA The new racism: Symbolic racism The belief that blacks (and Hispanics) get special and undeserved treatment from the US governments AGE AND POLITICAL BEHAVIOR Several nation-wide studies on the relationship between age and political behavior, but all lacking a global look on the age phenomenon as a whole National studies show that people belonging to old age groups are much more eager to vote in the elections AGE AND POLITICAL BEHAVIOR Mark Franklin (2004) was the first to examine the age phenomenon from a global comparative perspective The cohort composition of the electorate Voting as a habit and habituation process developing in accordance with age Health problems may constitute barriers against old age voter AGE AND POLITICAL BEHAVIOR Old age people generally see voting,as well as a habit, as their citizenship duty or as a sign of their loyalty to the political system THE THREE TYPES OF EFFECTS Differences between age groups in terms of political participation can be determined by three types of effects: Cohort Life cycle Individual aging COHORT EFFECT Shared experience by a group that was born during a certain period Shared socialisation as a political generation (i.e. The 68 generation in Turkey) Shared social characteristics in terms of education, media, technology…etc LIFE-CYCLE EFFECT Different life stages such as childhood, teenhood, adulthood…etc. At each stage, there are demands imposed on the individuals from the sociocultural environment Also at each stage, there are differing responsibilities (i.e. Parents getting more involved in politics since political developments are crucial for the future of their children) INDIVIDUAL AGING EFFECT Past voting experiences increase the probability of future voting Repetation of the same political behaviors over time (voting) make it a more concrete habit The older we are, the more likely we are to adhere to the social norm of voting VOTING AS A SOCIAL NORM Voting behavior becoming a social norm in time (especially in liberal democracies) and adherence to this norm can be observed by the elements within the social environment Voting becoming a moral duty that brings social gratification for the voter FACTORS INFLUENCING OLD AGE VOTING BEHAVIOR Sense of duty to vote Religiosity Duration of residence Party identification Pension as a main source of income Political interest