Political Ideology in Early Childhood: Making the Case for Studying Young Children in Political Psychology

Research in political psychology largely ignores early childhood. This is likely due to the assumption that young children lack cognitive capacity and social understanding needed for thought. Challenging this assumption, we argue research with both possible important psychologists. We focus on topic of ideology demonstrate our argument. review recent evidence revealing cognition childhood—and even infancy—is already oriented toward group living ways set foundation Young notice key dimensions (e.g., boundaries, hierarchies, norms) use them guide their reasoning behavior. Beyond these basic proto-political sensitivities, also display attitudes: valenced and/or prescriptive cognitions about have significance disliking nonconforming members, believing hierarchy between groups wrong). Even more reminiscent mainstream psychology, children's sensitivities attitudes exhibit systematic individual differences can roughly be mapped onto three ideological orientations common among adults: authoritarianism, dominance, hawkish ideology. discuss which critical a complete adult psychology.