POLS 202 Midterm Exam - Important Concepts

Flashcards based on POLS 202 Midterm Exam Study Sheet.

Civic Ignorance

Lack of knowledge about the political system and important issues.

High Propensity Voters

Individuals who are very likely to participate in elections.

Negligence

Failure to exercise the appropriate and ethical ruling in public affairs.

Low Propensity Voters

Individuals who are less likely to participate in elections.

Wooden-headedness

Combination of arrogance and ignorance

Shortsightedness

Lack of planning and consideration of long-term consequences.

Bone-headedness

Stupidity

Cult of Ignorance

Systematic disregard for expert knowledge.

Naïve Realism

The belief that we perceive the world objectively.

Confirmation Bias

The tendency to favor information that confirms existing beliefs.

Third Person Effect

Thinking you are less susceptible to media influence than others.

Dunning-Kruger Effect

Cognitive bias where people with low ability overestimate their ability.

Intellectual Humility

Recognizing the limits of one's own knowledge.

Conservativism

Political ideology generally favoring traditional values and limited government intervention.

Liberalism

Political ideology generally supporting social justice and government intervention in the economy.

Libertarianism

Political ideology advocating minimal government intervention in both economic and social issues.

Authoritarian

Favoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom.

Belief Hygiene

Practices to ensure well-reasoned and factual beliefs.

Majority Belief Myopia

Believing something because most other people do.

Democracy

A system of government in which the people hold power through voting and representation.

Republic

A state in which supreme power is held by the people and their elected representatives.

Direct Democracy

A form of democracy in which citizens participate directly in decision-making.

Representative Democracy

A form of democracy in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Authoritarianism

A political system characterized by strong central control and limited political freedoms.

Fascism

A political ideology characterized by extreme nationalism, authoritarianism, and militarism.

Gerrymandering

The practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to favor one political party or group over another.

Voter Suppression

Efforts to prevent eligible voters from registering or voting.