Human Nature in Politics: The Dialogue of Psychology with Political Science

1985 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Herbert A. Simon
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Psychology ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Bounded Rationality ◽  
Human Nature ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Substantive Rationality ◽  
Human Rationality

This article compares two theories of human rationality that have found application in political science: procedural, bounded rationality from contemporary cognitive psychology, and global, substantive rationality from economics. Using examples drawn from the recent literature of political science, it examines the relative roles played by the rationality principle and by auxiliary assumptions (e.g., assumptions about the content of actors' goals) in explaining human behavior in political contexts, and concludes that the model predictions rest primarily on the auxiliary assumptions rather than deriving from the rationality principle.The analysis implies that the principle of rationality, unless accompanied by extensive empirical research to identify the correct auxiliary assumptions, has little power to make valid predictions about political phenomena.

An Assessment of Simulations on an : International Organization

1985 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 4-5
Author(s):  
Paul F. Diehl ◽  
Michael J. Montgomery
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
United Nations ◽  
Political Science ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
The United States ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
International Organization ◽  
Potential Value ◽  
Existing Structure

Simulation is an increasingly popular pedagogical device; much of the recent literature on the theory and practice of political science instruction attests to this. Probably the most popular simulation device is called model United Nations. In recent articles in Teaching Political Science and NEWS for Teachers of Political Science, William Hazelton and James Jacob have described Model United Nations in glowing terms, focusing on one particular conference and completely ignoring the rest of the 200 or more conferences held annually across the United States.Like Jacob and Hazelton, we recognize the great potential value of United Nations simulations in trying to illuminate the often confusing politics of international organizations. As former participants and directors of these programs, however, we are keenly aware of the shortcomings and difficulties associated with the existing structure of model U.N. programs.

Understanding International Trade Policies: An Emerging Synthesis

1990 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Odell
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
International Trade ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Political Institutions ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
The United States ◽  
Trade Policies ◽  
Market Conditions ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Beliefs And Values

The international trade problems of the 1980s stimulated an expansion of scholarship on trade policies by economists and political scientists. At least four distinct theoretical perspectives weave their way through recent literature that concentrates on the United States—emphasizing market conditions, policy beliefs and values, national political institutions, and global structures, respectively. New studies in each of these traditions advance beyond the work of their predecessors, but none of the perspectives has yet proved adequate as a single unifying vehicle. Nevertheless, we can also see clear movement toward a synthesis, with single works blending insights from several traditions. Thus, the books under review do not all fall neatly into the familiar exclusive categories of “economics” or “political science.” The emerging synthesis needs strengthening in several ways, including the development of “conditioning hypotheses” that will reduce remaining apparent confusions.

scholarly journals Dez pontos sobre apresentações de slides, suas características e implicações para a prática docente

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (33) ◽  
pp. 58
Author(s):  
Renata Amorim Cadena ◽  
Solange Galvão Coutinho
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Psychology ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Historical Development ◽  
Educational Context ◽  
Education Management ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Slide Shows

In this article, we describe important aspects of slide shows in ten topics, which involve: (a) the definition of this artefact; (b) its characteristics, linked to its historical development; (c) some criticism and problems in its structure and use; (d) results of empirical research regarding its use in an educational context; and (e) recommendations for improved practices in designing slideshows. The source of data was extracted from a literature review of several articles and books mainly from the areas of Education, Management and Cognitive Psychology.

scholarly journals La condición humana y el Estado en Hobbes

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Héctor Sierra Salas
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Natural Condition ◽  
State Theory ◽  
The State ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
Civil State ◽  
Political Work ◽  
The Human Condition

Sobre la condición humana en la teoría del Estado de Hobbes. La necesidad de comprender la condición humana como razón de ser del Estado, se hace evidente a los largo de la obra política de Hobbes. Por eso, cabe notar cómo, paralelamente en los libros Elementos del Derecho Natural y Político, De Civey el Leviatán, el pensador inglés dedica parte de su estudio a la explicación de la naturaleza humana, y a la dramática condición de los hombres que habitan en medio de una situación de guerra permanente, surgida a partir del dominiode las pasiones naturales sobre el comportamiento humano. Así mismo, hace ver que la legitimación del Estado Civil y la justificación de elementos como el Derecho, la Ley, la soberanía, entre otros, surge de la necesidad de garantizarla paz y la seguridad a los hombres, lo cual significa sacarlos de su estado natural.Palabras clave: Hobbes, estado de naturaleza, Estado Civil.AbstractThe Human Condition in Hobbes’ State Theory. The need to understand the human condition as reason of being of the State becomes evident throughout Hobbes’s political work. For this reason, it is important to note how in the books, The Elements of Law Natural and Politic, On the Citizen, and TheLeviathan, the English thinker dedicates part of his study to the explanation of human nature and to the dramatic condition of men who live in an environment of permanent war. This environment arises from the domain of natural passions that make up human behavior. Likewise, it is shown that the legitimacy of the Civil State and the justification of elements, such as rights, Law and sovereignty among others, arise from the need to guarantee peace and safety for humanbeings, which means removing them from their natural state.Key words: Hobbes, natural condition, Civil State.

Agent-based mechanism design – investigating bounded rationality concepts in a budgeting context

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 13-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Lorscheid ◽  
Matthias Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Mechanism Design ◽  
Bounded Rationality ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Agent Based ◽  
Decision Context ◽  
Agent Learning ◽  
Groves Mechanism ◽  
Research Questions

Purpose This study aims to demonstrate how agent-based simulation (ABS) may provide a computational testbed for mechanism design using concepts of bounded rationality (BR). ABS can be used to systematically derive and formalize different models of BR. This allows us to identify the cognitive preconditions for behavior intended by the mechanism and thereby to derive implications for the design of mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach Based on an analysis of the requirements of the decision context, the authors describe a systematic way of incorporating different BR concepts into an agent learning model. The approach is illustrated by analyzing an incentive scheme suggested for truthful reporting in budgeting contexts, which is an adapted Groves mechanism scheme. Findings The study describes systematic ways in which to derive BR agents for research questions where behavioral aspects might matter. The authors show that BR concepts may lead to other outcomes than the intended truth-inducing effect. A modification of the mechanism to more distinguishable levels of payments improves the results in terms of the intended effect. Research limitations/implications The presented BR concepts as simulated by agent models cannot model human behavior in its full complexity. The simplification of complex human behavior is a useful analytical construct for the controlled analysis of a few aspects and an understanding of the potential consequences of those aspects of human behavior for mechanism design. Originality/value The paper specifies the idea of a computational testbed for mechanism design based on BR concepts. Beyond this, a systematic and stepwise approach is shown to formalize bounded rational behavior by agents based on a requirements analysis, including benchmark models for the comparison and evaluation of BR concepts.

Cooperation, Coordination, and Collective Action

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Cronk ◽  
Beth L. Leech
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Coordination Problems ◽  
Evolutionary Biologist ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Two Bodies

This book investigates a wide range of ideas, theories, and existing empirical research relevant to the study of the complex and diverse phenomenon of human cooperation. Issues relating to cooperation are examined from the perspective of evolutionary theory, political science, and related social sciences. The book draws upon two bodies of work: Mancur Olson's The Logic of Collective Action (1965) and George C. Williams's Adaptation and Natural Selection (1966). Olson, an economist, and Williams, an evolutionary biologist, both argued that a focus on groups would not provide a complete understanding of collective action and other social behaviors. This introductory chapter discusses some important definitions relating to cooperation, with particular emphasis on collective action and collective action dilemmas, along with coordination and coordination problems. It also provides an overview of the chapters that follow.

The Tyranny of Idealistic Certitude and Imagined Utopias

2020 ◽  
pp. 63-104
Author(s):  
Daniel Chirot
Keyword(s):  
Human Nature ◽  
Human Behavior ◽  
Mexican Revolution ◽  
Normal Human

This chapter argues that the more transformative the utopia, the more likely it was to meet inevitable, practical barriers. No utopia yet devised fully took into account the imperfections of normal human behavior. Rather than accepting the limitations of their utopian dreams, revolutionary leaders increasingly applied violence to reshape not only their societies but human nature itself. They died unrepentant, still certain they had been right. Within this backdrop, the chapter first turns to the confounding case of the Mexican Revolution of 1910–1920. This revolution had many of the elements that produced so much violence and repression in previous examples. Yet the Mexican Revolution never became as radical as these others because it did not formulate a coherent utopian ideal. After considering this seeming exception, the chapter turns to the examples of tyrannical certitude—revolutionary regimes willing and able to commit bloody excesses in order to bring about their imagined utopias.

Homophily and Online Politics

2015 ◽  
pp. 958-971
Author(s):  
Kevin Wallsten ◽  
Dilyana Toteva
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Deliberative Democracy ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Mass Communication ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Representative Government ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Online Politics ◽  
Insight Into

The expansion of the Internet and the sudden popularity of Web 2.0 applications, such as blogs, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook, raise important questions about the extent and consequences of homophilous sorting in online political discussions. In particular, there is growing concern that Internet users' ability to filter out alternative points of view will lead political discourse to become more polarized and fragmented along ideological lines. The decline of deliberative democracy and the breakdown of America's system of representative government, the story goes, will be the inevitable causalities of political discussions moving from in-person to online. Unfortunately, the empirical research in fields such as mass communication, political science, and sociology provides no hard and fast conclusions about the amount of online homophily in political discussions. This article details this conflicted body of research and points to some areas where future research may provide more insight into the intersection of online politics and homophilous sorting.

Personality traits and music in adolescence

2019 ◽  
pp. 99-108
Author(s):  
Dave Miranda
Keyword(s):  
Personality Traits ◽  
Human Nature ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Fundamental Question ◽  
Music Listening ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Personality Psychology ◽  
Music Making ◽  
Psychology Perspective

For centuries, and across cultures, people have wondered what kind of relationship there is between music and human nature. A personality psychology perspective may address this fundamental question on music by considering that personality traits are dispositions that constitute part of human nature. Hence, the classic question about how music is associated with human nature may at least in part be answered by examining if and how personality traits and music are interrelated. The objective of this chapter is to review the recent literature on personality traits and music in adolescence, with an eye on wellbeing. The first part discusses possible interrelations between personality traits and music listening. The second part considers putative relationships between personality traits and music making. Research directions are briefly outlined.

scholarly journals Researching cross-national policy mobilities in crime control

2019 ◽  
pp. 174889581986462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor Jones ◽  
Jarrett Blaustein ◽  
Tim Newburn
Keyword(s):  
Political Science ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Crime Control ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Human Geography ◽  
Policy Transfer ◽  
Minor Importance ◽  
Methodological Approaches ◽  
Policy Mobilities ◽  
Cross National

The empirical study of ‘policy transfer’ and related topics remains a relatively rare enterprise in criminology. Comparative studies of crime control policy tend to focus on broader structural explanations on the one hand, or more specific socio-cultural analyses on the other. By contrast, scholars from other disciplinary traditions – including political science, public administration, comparative social policy and human geography – have developed a vibrant body of empirical research into the dynamics and impacts of cross-jurisdictional flows of policy ideas, programmes and practices. This research provides helpful methodological pointers to criminologists interested in carrying out such work within the field of crime control. This article argues that the relative lack of empirical research on cross-national crime policy movement arises from two main factors: first, a generalised sense that the topic is of rather minor importance and second, a lack of methodological clarity about how such research might proceed. Such methodological barriers have arguably been further strengthened by major critiques of the political science frameworks of ‘policy transfer’ that have been influential in the field. We view cross-national policy movement as an important subject for empirical criminological inquiry, and consider extant methodological approaches and potential future directions, drawing in particular on wider work within political science and human geography. There is significant potential for criminologists to learn from, and contribute to, the methodological approaches deployed by researchers from other disciplines and thus enhance knowledge about the concept of policy mobilities.

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