O0CP 2000 - COGNITIVE APPROACHES TO POLITICAL BEHAVIOUR

The last few years have seen the rise of cognitive sciences, which offered new insights into human behaviour. Cognitive sciences have provided new perspectives in understanding social and political phenomena, by offering new practical and conceptual tools for the study these complex processes. The goal of this course is to present an overview of how cognitive sciences can add to our understanding of political behaviour. The goal of this course is to present the theoretical and conceptual tools that are necessary to use of cognitive sciences for the study of political behavior. To do so, each class will combine a theoretical presentation of cognitive insights on specific social science topics and critical discussion on these insights. These topics will include (but will not be limited to): voting behavior, racism, nationalist discourses, poverty and unequalities.

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This course strongly encourages in-class participation and the diversity that students bring to this class be viewed as a strength. Therefore, it aims to offer an inclusive and safe environment in which every student can express their unique views and perspective.

Students will have to write three 300-word critical reviews of cognitive science papers throughout the semester (20%). In addition, they will work on one of the course’ topic on which they will have to write a small summary on the social science perspective on the topic (10% - in group), discuss the cognitive science insights on the topic in class (20% - individual work) and write a mini-review (3,000 words) on the cognitive insights on one of the outstanding questions on the topic (50% - individual or group work).