ASPO 25A37 - Behavioral sciences and political dynamics
ASPO 25A37 · Fall semester 2026-2027
- Language of tuition
- English
- Course type
- Cours magistral
- Number of hours
- 24
- Credits
- 5
Information
Description
This course aims to provide a panorama of how behavioural approaches can help to understand key issues in the political and social sciences. It will examine the central cognitive and behavioural processes relevant to the analysis of social and political dynamics. Furthermore, the methodological and theoretical limitations and challenges of these approaches will be discussed throughout the semester in order to enable students to think and apply these approaches critically. By the end of the semester students will know :
- the key concepts from behavioral science to analyse political and social dynamics
- the tools to get a critical perspective on the use of behavioral sciences for the understanding of social and political processes
- the general principles of the main methodological tools used in behavioral sciences
Prerequisites
No prerequisite
Teaching format
Through a combination of formal lectures and class discussion, the course will provide students with the tools necessary to apply a behavioural perspective to political and social issues.
Assessment
10% engagement
30% mid-term quiz
30% final quiz
30% final paper proposing a psychological analysis of a real-life issue (1,500 words)
Readings
Main readings 4
-
Amodio, D. M. (2014). The neuroscience of prejudice and stereotyping. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 15(10), 670-682.
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Barclay, P. (2016). Biological markets and the effects of partner choice on cooperation and friendship. Current opinion in psychology, 7, 33-38.
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Cosmides, L., & Tooby, J. (1997). Evolutionary psychology: A primer (Vol. 13). Center for Evolutionary Psychology, Santa Barbara.
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Pepper, G. V., & Nettle, D. (2017). The behavioural constellation of deprivation: Causes and consequences. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 40, e314.
Further readings 5
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Boon-Falleur, M., Grandin, A., Baumard, N., & Chevallier, C. (2022). Leveraging social cognition to promote effective climate change mitigation. Nature Climate Change, 12(4), 332-338.
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Boyer, P. (2018). Minds make societies: How cognition explains the world humans create. Yale University Press.
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Boyer, P., Chantland, E., & Safra, L. (2024). Victims of misfortune may not “deserve” help: A possible factor in victim-devaluation. Evolution and Human Behavior, 45(2), 153-163.
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Safra, L., Algan, Y., Tecu, T., Grèzes, J., Baumard, N., & Chevallier, C. (2017). Childhood harshness predicts long-lasting leader preferences. Evolution and Human Behavior, 38(5), 645-651.
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Starmans, C., Sheskin, M., & Bloom, P. (2017). Why people prefer unequal societies. Nature Human Behaviour, 1(4), 1-7.
Teaching units
| Unit no. | Unit type | Teaching units | Teachers | Number of hours | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19329 | Cours magistral | Behavioral sciences and political dynamics | Lou SAFRA, Mélusine BOON-FALLEUR, Pascal BOYER, Lou SCHUBERT | 24 | 5 |
| 20456 | Cours magistral | Behavioral sciences and political dynamics | — | — | 5 |
Teachers
- Lou SAFRA
- Mélusine BOON-FALLEUR
- Pascal BOYER
- Lou SCHUBERT
In the curricula
- Bachelor exchange programme, semester 3: core courses / Bachelor programme d'échange, semestre 3 : cours du tronc commun - 26/27COLLÈGE UNIVERSITAIRE - CAMPUS PARIS
- Bachelor, semestre 3 : cours séminaires - 26/27COLLÈGE UNIVERSITAIRE - CAMPUS PARIS
Contacts and resources
- Contact
- NICOULEAU Svetlana