The intersection of psychology, political beliefs, and media manipulation is a fascinating area of study. In his book, The Political Brain, Drew Westen discusses the role of emotion in political life.  Similarly, The Righteous Mind by Janathan Haidt provides valuable perspectives on the psychological underpinnings of political ideology. 

In his TED Talk “The moral roots of liberals and conservatives,” Jonathan Haidt discusses the five moral values that form the bases of our political choices. Gail Saltz examines questions like: is there a difference in brain structure between liberals and conservatives? in this video. 

To further explore the topic of ways in which our psychological traits are exploited for political and financial purposes, check out “The Social Dilemma,” a documentary-drama hybrid exploring the impact of social media on society and democracy, and “The Brainwashing of My Dad,” a documentary exploring the transformation of a father’s political beliefs due to media consumption. 

Finally, to help sort through potentially exploitative media portrayals of political leanings, check out websites like Media Bias/Fact Check, which provides ratings for media bias and fact-checking, and FactCheck.org, a nonpartisan, nonprofit consumer advocate that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.

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