The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation

Westen, Drew

ISBN 10: 1586484257 / ISBN 13: 9781586484255

Published by PublicAffairs (edition First Edition), 2007

With dust jacket. It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting. Seller Inventory # 1586484257-11-6-29

Synopsis:

This book presents a groundbreaking and surprising scientific investigation into how the mind works, how the brain works and what this means for why candidates win and lose elections. Since the 18th century, the idea of mind that has captured the imagination of philosophers, cognitive scientists, economists and political scientists is of a dispassionate mind that makes decisions by weighing evidence and reasoning to make the most valid conclusions. It bears no relation to how the mind and brain actually work. In this landmark book, Professor Drew Westen - a scientist and psychologist who has led a pioneering investigation into how the brain processes political information - shows through a whirlwind tour of American political leaders how electorates vote not with their heads, but with their hearts. He finds that Americans are a nation of passionate voters, not cool political spectators - they love (or hate) Bill Clinton and George W Bush. No-one else will do. The book, which examines data across several Presidential elections from the 1950s to the present day, is a serious and groundbreaking investigation into the role of emotion in driving voting behaviour.

About the Author: Professor Drew Westen holds a BA from Harvard University, an MA from Sussex University and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan, where he taught for six years. His major areas of research include personality disorders, eating disorders, psychotherapy effectiveness and political psychology. He is a regular commentator on NPR's All Things Considered, and lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in ...
Publisher: PublicAffairs (edition First Edition)
Publication Date: 2007
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
Edition: First Edition.