Drew Westen Books
Drew Westen is an American psychologist, professor, and political consultant known for his research on the intersection of psychology, emotion, and politics. He has taught at Emory University and authored numerous works on political communication and the psychology of persuasion.
Known for: The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation
Books by Drew Westen
The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation
In this influential work, psychologist Drew Westen argues that political decision-making is driven more by emotion than by rational analysis. Drawing on neuroscience and psychology, Westen explores how emotional engagement shapes voters’ choices and how political campaigns succeed or fail based on their ability to connect emotionally with the electorate.
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The Myth of the Rational Mind
For generations, traditional political science has operated on the premise that voters behave like economists—rational actors weighing costs and benefits before making choices. This model, elegant in theory, collapses under the weight of empirical evidence. In *The Political Brain*, I show that peop...
From The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation
The Emotional Brain
The human brain evolved not only to think but to feel. When you encounter a political message, your amygdala springs into action long before your prefrontal cortex begins its rational deliberation. Neural imaging studies I cite throughout this book reveal that emotion precedes reasoning and often de...
From The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation
About Drew Westen
Drew Westen is an American psychologist, professor, and political consultant known for his research on the intersection of psychology, emotion, and politics. He has taught at Emory University and authored numerous works on political communication and the psychology of persuasion.
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Drew Westen is an American psychologist, professor, and political consultant known for his research on the intersection of psychology, emotion, and politics. He has taught at Emory University and authored numerous works on political communication and the psychology of persuasion.
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