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Articles 1 - 6 of 6

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

I Am Not A Hero: Heroic Action Divorces The Hero From The Political Community, Ari Kohen, Brian Riches, Andre Sólo Jan 2024

I Am Not A Hero: Heroic Action Divorces The Hero From The Political Community, Ari Kohen, Brian Riches, Andre Sólo

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

Most people who perform a heroic act will, afterward, deny that their actions were heroic and claim that anyone would have done the same, even though that is demonstrably false (and, often, others were present who failed to act heroically at all). The literature on the psychology of heroism has never investigated why this is. This theoretical paper proposes an answer and seeks to provoke exploration of a previously unexplored topic. We note that people who undertake heroic action face a unique conflict: they embody their community’s highest values, while simultaneously breaking norms to stand apart from that community. We …


The Selfless Voter: Altruism And Irrationality In Economic Voting, John Byrne Jul 2021

The Selfless Voter: Altruism And Irrationality In Economic Voting, John Byrne

Politics Summer Fellows

Traditionally, we have assumed that voters choose the candidates and policy platforms that benefit them the most. So why can we observe people doing the exact opposite and acting, seemingly, irrationally by voting their money away? This project examines the power of altruism in voting and whether or not voters actually place the needs of others over themselves at the polls.


Predicting Positive Attitudes Toward Immigrants With Altruism, Kati Elizabeth Stafford Jan 2020

Predicting Positive Attitudes Toward Immigrants With Altruism, Kati Elizabeth Stafford

Theses and Dissertations--Political Science

Immigration is one of the most salient and divisive issues in the US and a host of other countries, with public opinion polarized and elites deadlocked on the issue. One limitation of research on immigration attitudes is the tendency for scholars to focus exclusively on dark motivations driving hostility toward immigrants rather than those leading to compassion and support for immigrants. Using 2016 American National Election Studies (ANES) data, I examine the relationship between attitudes towards immigration and several Big Five personality traits, focusing on Altruism. I find that personality traits, especially those related to Altruism, are crucial determinants of …


The Making Of A Hero: Cultivating Empathy, Altruism, And Heroic Imagination, Ari Kohen, Matt Langdon, Brian R. Riches Jan 2017

The Making Of A Hero: Cultivating Empathy, Altruism, And Heroic Imagination, Ari Kohen, Matt Langdon, Brian R. Riches

Department of Political Science: Faculty Publications

Heroes are not born; they’re made. This article examines the commonalities in the backgrounds of people who take heroic action on behalf of others to theorize the ways in which our society can encourage citizens to prepare themselves to act heroically. In looking closely at a variety of people who have acted heroically, in a single moment or over time, we argue they have at least four crucial commonalities: They imagined situations where help was needed and considered how they would act; they had an expansive sense of empathy, not simply with those who might be considered “like them” but …


The United States House Of Representatives And The International Monetary Fund: Cognitions And Miscognitions, Ibpp Editor Jul 1998

The United States House Of Representatives And The International Monetary Fund: Cognitions And Miscognitions, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article provides a brief cognitive analysis of rationales for not supporting the allocation of $18 billion to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).


Trends. Bahtmen To The Rescue: A Psychology Of Altruism In Thailand, Ibpp Editor Aug 1997

Trends. Bahtmen To The Rescue: A Psychology Of Altruism In Thailand, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author examines the Thai financial system billion dollar rescue in terms of altruism vs. egoism.