DOI: 10.56367/oag-052-12836 ISSN: 2516-3817

Cognition and emotion in government and politics

Daniel S. Levine

Cognition and emotion in government and politics

Daniel S. Levine from the University of Texas at Arlington discusses the cognitive-emotional brain’s role in government and politics. In Western, especially Anglo-American, culture, we have developed over centuries a meme that laments that humans are often irrational and swayed by emotions. Emotions strongly influence both the policy decisions of political officeholders and the voting behaviour of ordinary citizens. This makes some of us shake our heads sadly and wonder if government will ever work constructively for the benefit of society.

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