Event Calendar
Prev MonthPrev Month Next MonthNext Month
The Contingent, Constructed Nature of the Link Between Psychological Variables and Politics
Weyerhaeuser Administrative Building
62 Macalester Street
St. Paul, MN 55105
United States
Wednesday, October 26, 2016, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM CDT
Category: Distinguished Scholar Lecture (CE)

The Contingent, Constructed Nature of the Link Between Psychological Variables and Politics

Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Registration: 7 - 7:30 p.m.
Program: 7:30 - 9 p.m.

Weyerhaeuser Administrative Building
Macalester College
62 Macalester Street
Saint Paul, MN  55105

About the Program

A great deal of recent research suggests that people's ideological preferences are rooted in epistemic and existential needs: individuals with strong needs for certainty and security lean toward the right, whereas those who are less concerned about attaining certainty and security lean to the left. Though this body of work clearly indicates that psychological factors are a major antecedent of political attitudes, this talk argues that the relationship between the psychological and the political is not a given,  rather, it is contingent and constructed. Specifically, evidence reviewed in this program suggests the strength of the relationship between psychological variables and political attitudes varies as a function of: (1) political engagement and attention to elite political discourse, (2) exposure to active political campaigns, (3) nation-level characteristics related to development and modernization, and (4) characteristics of various issue domains.

This session qualifies for 1.5 continuing education credits. You must attend the full 1.5-hour program to get continuing education credit for the event.

Participants will be able to:

  1. Identify general relationships between political ideology and psychological needs for certainty and security.
  2. Describe how these relationships further depend on numerous individual-, issue-, and nation-level characteristics.

The Minnesota Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.  The Minnesota Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

About the Presenter:

Christopher M. Federico, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology and Political Science at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Dr. Federico received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2001. Dr. Federico was an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota from 2001-2007, then was an Associate Professor from 2007-2015. The research of Dr. Federico examines the psychological foundations of political ideology, political involvement, and intergroup conflict. He has published over 50 articles and book chapters, and his most recent book, published in 2016, is titled Personality, Parties, and the Foundations of Economic Opinion. Dr. Federico has received awards from the International Society of Political Psychology and from the International Society for Justice Research, and his research has received funding from the National Science Foundation as well as numerous grants from the University of Minnesota.

To Register:

Register Online

Click here for a downloadable registration form.

Refund/Cancellation Policy: A 100% refund will be made if the event is cancelled. Refunds, less a $5 handling free, will be given if a written cancellation is received at least two working days before the scheduled program begins. Transfer of fee to another program is granted if written cancellation notice is received at least one day before the program. No refund or transfer is given the day of the program.


Contact: Rhea Sullivan, (952) 564-3048