When Endocrinology and Democracy Collide: Emotions, Cortisol and Voting at National Elections

20 Pages Posted: 1 Aug 2011 Last revised: 4 Aug 2011

See all articles by Israel Waismel-Manor

Israel Waismel-Manor

University of Haifa

Gal Ifergane

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Hagit Cohen

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Date Written: 2011

Abstract

Faced with stressful experiences, such as uncertainty or novelty, the adrenal glands secrete glucocorticoid hormones to help us cope with stress. Since many decision-making situations are stressful, there is reason to believe that voting is a stressful event. In this study, we asked voters in Israel's national election (N=113) to report on their general affective state immediately before entering the polling place using the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and to provide us with a saliva sample through which we could evaluate their cortisol levels. Compared to a second sample of voters who reported their affective state on election night (N=70), we found that voters at the ballot box had higher positive and negative affect. Moreover, our voters at the polling place exhibited cortisol levels that were significantly higher than their own normal levels obtained on a similar day, and significantly higher than those of a second control group sampled the day after the elections (N=6). Our data demonstrate that elections are exciting, yet stressful events, and it is this stress, among other factors, that elevates the cortisol levels of voters. Since elevated cortisol has been found to affect memory consolidation, impair memory retrieval and lead to risk-seeking behavior, we discuss how these outcomes of elevated cortisol levels may affect voting in general and the field of electoral studies in particular.

Suggested Citation

Waismel-Manor, Israel and Ifergane, Gal and Cohen, Hagit, When Endocrinology and Democracy Collide: Emotions, Cortisol and Voting at National Elections (2011). APSA 2011 Annual Meeting Paper, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1901724

Israel Waismel-Manor (Contact Author)

University of Haifa ( email )

Mount Carmel
Haifa, 31905
Israel

Gal Ifergane

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev ( email )

1 Ben-Gurion Blvd
Beer-Sheba 84105, 84105
Israel

Hagit Cohen

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev ( email )

1 Ben-Gurion Blvd
Beer-Sheba 84105, 84105
Israel

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
63
Abstract Views
2,630
Rank
628,038
PlumX Metrics