Political Ideology: Its Structure, Functions, and Elective Affinities

摘要

Ideology has re-emerged as an important topic of inquiry among so_cial, personality, and political psychologists. In this review, we examine recent theory and research concerning the structure, contents, and func_tions of ideological belief systems. We begin by defining the construct and placing it in historical and philosophical context. We then examine different perspectives on how many (and what types of) dimensions in_dividuals use to organize their political opinions. We investigate (a) how and to what extent individuals acquire the discursive contents associ_ated with various ideologies, and (b) the social-psychological functions that these ideologies serve for those who adopt them. Our review high_lights "elective affinities" between situational and dispositional needs of individuals and groups and the structure and contents of specific ideolo_gies. Finally, we consider the consequences of ideology, especially with respect to attitudes, evaluations, and processes of system justification.