Issues central to political psychology are at the heart of most disputes in politics about what is possible. For example, many political philosophers begin their analyses with a statement about "human nature." Claims about progress presume that human nature will be positively developed by political change. The enlightenment held that rationality would be strengthened by progress, and thereby make democracy more viable. Those who defend authoritarian regimes often do so by proclaiming that the general public is incapable of self-rule. Much of these disputes rest on evidence of various sorts that speak to the degree of rationality, capacity for justice, and empathy of people. We explore what psychology tells us about the capacity for justice and rationality among mass publics and leaders. Political psychology explores how people perceive, and misperceive, the world around them, how and when people attend to politics, and how people make political judgments. The course pays special attention to the surprising roles that emotions play in enabling rationality in politics. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: a midterm exam, one analysis paper, and a final exam. Prerequisites: any of the following: Political Science elective at the 200 or 300 level, or Psychology 101, 212, 221, 232, 242, 251, or 300 level course. Enrollment limit: 24. American Politics Subfield