THEORETICAL GROUNDS FOR TYPOLOGIZATION OF THE ELECTORATE IN THE SOCIO-PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH

Abstract

The article attempts to systematize and generalize the existing theoretical approaches to typologization of the electorate, to identifies and analyzes the main grounds for typologization of voters. It is proved that the electorate is the subject of interdisciplinary research, which is formed at the intersection of political science, sociology and psychology, so the author analyzes the main theoretical approaches to defining the concept of “electoral group” within these areas. Analyzing the classical theories of electoral behavior, the article considers the main theoretical approaches to typologization of the electorate. Criteria for typologization are political sympathies and orientations, the degree of acquaintance with the programs of candidates and campaign products, changing of intention to vote during the election campaign, the degree of involvement in the election process, the stability of electoral orientations, the degree of self-benefit from election strategies campaigns. Attention is paid to the substantiation of socio-psychological criteria of voter typologization, laid down by followers of the Michigan school, who singled out party identification, attitude to current events and to the candidate as key grounds for development of typology. On the example of the analysis of the main approaches the author proved that attempts to typologize the electorate by psychological characteristics in the works of many scientists are fragmentary, often taking into account only one of these characteristics without covering all possible variables. It is emphasized that the most common in the post-Soviet countries is still the typology of voters based on socio-demographic characteristics, according to which groups are distinguished on the basis of age, gender, level of education, region and type of settlement, political affiliation, electoral sympathies.