The approach of political psychology in Nigeria
The word psychology come from two Greeks words namely – psych = soul and logos = study from the study of soul/mind. However, according to the dictionary, $ ppplpsychology is defined as the study of nature, function of the nature and phenomenal of behaviour and mental experience. To some persons, psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour. It is important to note that psychologist strives to understand the mystery of human nature, for instance, why people think, feel and do as they do.
Having examined the word psychology, it is necessary that we go back to the bone of contention “Political Psychology”.
Political psychology is an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to understanding politics, politicians and political behavriour from a psychological perspective. It can also be seen or defined as an interdisciplinary academic field dedicated to the study of mental processes that underlie political judgments and decision making.
REASONS FOR THE STUDY OF POLITICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology is an important tool to explain politics political psychology is an application of what is known about human psychology to the study of politics. It sees politics as the ultimate lab to examine general psychology phenomena (Sears Huddy and Jervis, 2003).
Often time, people tend to ask the relationship between politics and psychology but the truth remains that both are concerned about human beings. No wonder why some scholars view the relationship as bi-directional, with psychology being used to understand politics and politics being used as lens for understanding psychology. Researchers have claimed that nearly all politics and political science theories are psychological at root because they “rest on assumption, usually implicit, about how people think and feel.
No doubt indeed, there are some tangible reasons for the study of political psychology among them are:
ð Political psychology aims to understand interdependent relationship between individuals and contexts that are influenced by beliefs, motivation, perception, cognition, information processing, learning strategies, socialization and attitude formation .
ð Political psychological theory and approaches have been applied in many contexts such as leadership role, domestic and foreign policy making behavior in ethnic violence, war and genocide, group dynamics and conflict, racist behaviour, voting attitudes and motivation, voting and the role of media, nationalism; and political extremism and the outcomes of the application of political psychology in the above contexts has been wonderfully well. In essence, political psychologists study the foundations, dynamics and outcomes of political behaviour using cognitive and social explanations.
ð The study of political psychology will also help immensely during decision making cum policy formulation as politicians might have psychologically deduce the need and the likes of the masses.
ð The study of political psychology also help politicians to know the basic things in psychology.
Other reasons includes: -
ð It is interesting
ð Another is because all of politics is human behaviour.
ð Objections to political psychology
CONCLUSION
From the foregoing, it is Germane to note that a country with leaders or politicians who are psychologically oriented coupled with the availability of resources will have little or no problem in the cause of it administration. This is because they already have what it takes to read the mind and behavriour of people. Therefore, let it be noted that the important of studying political psychology can never be ever-emphasized. If you ask me, I will say that any politician that lacks with it takes to convince electorate, wins election, formulates palatable policies, care for his/her subjects, provide social amenities, control violence etc. is simply lacking some psychological make ups.
Finally, it is pertinent to know that politics and psychology are intertwined through separate fields of endeavour. The relationship is complimentary thus, the concept of “political psychology”.
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