Looking Back, Looking Forward

In the article, Looking Back, Looking Forward: ISPP at 40 and Future Directions for Political Psychology author Katherine Reynolds, delves into a myriad of topics. When we looked at the article in class there were a few key points that stood out. First there are a total of four levels of politcal needs that were drawn from Maslow. Level one are the basic needs; level two is dogmatism, authoritarianism, aggressivness; level three values, roles, and beliefs; and level four political ideologies.         

Jeanne Knutson Model

• Level 1 Basic needs
• Level 2  dogmatism, authoritarianism, and aggressiveness
• Level 3 sociocultural learnings such as values, roles, and beliefs that define a cultural system and situational factors
• Level 4 political ideology and political activity 

These different levels and the way that they effect one another have been the main question for many politcal pyschologists. In class with our small groups we were able to dive deeper into the section, Common Theoretical Assumptions Surrounding Humans as Political Animals. “To be a political animal is to be engaged with the social affairs of the group which is more deliberate and active compared to current accounts of being a social or cultural animal.” (Reynolds)

The author further explains that the Human mind is shaped by the social process and the content of the mind is shaped by the language, symbols, political arrangements, and laws. The human self is designed to expand and form groups.  Were an individual identifies not only as an individual but as a member of the group. But with this also comes the instinct to find difference in many groups and to become better through comparing themselves to other groups.