Making sense of the world, challenging truths.

INTERGROUP relations; POLITICAL psychology; THE Troubles, 1969-1994; BROWN v. Board of Education of Topeka; PSYCHOLOGICAL techniques; AMERICAN civil rights movement

This article discusses the field of political psychology and its aim to understand the often messy and irrational ways in which political events unfold. Political psychology draws on various branches of psychology, such as personality, social psychology, and cognitive psychology, to explain the actions and attitudes of individuals and groups in political events. The field has deep roots in political philosophy and has been influenced by historical events such as World War II and the Cold War. It has also evolved with advancements in neuroscience and a focus on topics such as emotion, fear, and social norms. The article concludes by highlighting the current focus of political psychology, including the decline of democracy, authoritarianism, and the climate crisis. [Extracted from the article]

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