The political brain : the role of emotion in deciding the fate of the nation / Drew Westen.

First published in 2007

Postscript to paper back edition : pages 421-437

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Winning states of mind -- 2. Rational minds, irrational campaigns -- 3. The evolution of the passionate brain -- 4. The emotions behind the curtain -- 5. Special interests in mind -- 6. Trickle-up politics -- 7. Writing an emotional constitution -- 8. Aborting ambivalence -- 9. Gunning for common ground -- 10. Racial consciousness and unconsciousness -- 11. Death and taxes -- 12. Hope, inspiration, and political intelligence -- 13. Positively negative -- 14. Terror networks -- 15. Civil and uncivil unions -- Postscript to paper back edition

"The Political Brain is a groundbreaking investigation into the role of emotion in determining the political life of the nation. For two decades Drew Westen, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Emory University, has explored a theory of the mind that differs substantially from the more "dispassionate" notions held by many cognitive psychologists, political scientists, economists - and Democratic campaign strategists. The idea of the mind as a cool calculator that makes decisions by weighing the evidence bears no relation to how the brain actually works. When political candidates assume voters dispassionately make decisions based on "the issues," they lose. That's why only one Democrat has been re-elected to the presidency since Franklin Roosevelt - and only one Republican has failed in that quest."