Question

Describe the three cognitive exercises Identified by Achen and Bartels that voters use instead of thinking about facts to resolve tensions between their own policy preferences and those of their party

Answer 1

Voters use heuristic cues, retrospective voting, and prospective voting as cognitive exercises to bypass detailed policy analysis and simplify their decision-making process when their own preferences clash with their party's stances.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Achen and Bartels, voters often use cognitive exercises to resolve tensions between their own policy preferences and those of their party. Rather than delving into the complexities of each issue, voters seek cognitive ease through the following exercises:

1. Heuristic cues: Voters use rules of thumb such as party affiliations, simplifying the decision-making process. For example, a Republican might vote for a Republican candidate due to perceived shared conservative values.
2. Retrospective voting: Voters look at the past performance of a party or candidate in power and use this as a basis for their current voting decision.
3. Prospective voting: Voters cast their ballots in anticipation of future benefits, selecting candidates they believe will improve the country in the coming years.

These cognitive exercises enable voters to make quicker and easier decisions without the burden of a detailed examination of all candidates and issues.