Freedom and Restraint: A Self-Control Perspective on Political Ideology

Abstract

Within the United States the topic of political ideology is an evolving and complex matter. The goal of this thesis is to examine an understudied area within this topic – the impact that self-control has on political ideology, and how it may influence the formation, expression, and/or evolution of political beliefs. This study deploys a quantitative approach utilizing Multinomial Logistic Regression to examine the relationship between self-control and political ideology. The research begins by establishing a theoretical framework examining the concept of Self-Control, nested within Social Control Theory. Drawing on existing literature, these theories offer a paradigm through which we can view political ideology, where the erosion of faith in the political system sometimes results in political deviance. While this research does not measure political deviance, the findings have both academic and practical implications. I found that as a main effect, self-control does not significantly impact on political ideology; however, when the moderating effects of sex and race are included, the effects of self-control on political ideology differ across race and class, suggesting self-control as a potential influence on the political views, and therefore potentially the political behavior, electorate. In terms of practical implications, this study can inform public policy, with the goal of mitigating and impacting impulsive decision-making motivated by political attitudes and behaviors, which in turn can aid in the development of targeted interventions to quell political deviance/violence that has been seen at elevated levels within the United States over the past decade.