Emotions and Voting

Research on emotions and voting examines features of human cognition and social contexts in which voters formulate judgments about politics. The recognition of the importance emotions have in politics gained attention as they emerged as prominent characteristics defining several presidential election cycles in American politics. This entry briefly introduces the components of emotions and voting and the contexts in which emotions are prevalent, and concludes with a brief overview of current knowledge of the role emotions have in politics.

As a cognitive instrument, emotions contribute a sense of meaning for human existence and serve a vital function in social life, as well as for interpreting one’s surroundings and navigating the environment. Based on this awareness about the role of emotions in human social and cognitive development ...