Mataić, Matea.
(2018).
Emotions as motives of political participation of the Croatian Youth.
Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology.
[mentor Jelić, Margareta].
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the type and level of involvement of Croatian youth in different forms of institutional and non-institutional political participation, as well as the fundamental motives in their basis. We started with the Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory and assumed that motivation can be explained by attempts to satisfy different psychological needs. Also, the distinct aspect of the study was to determine which emotions serve as motives of political participation, with special emphasis on basic emotions included in Gray's reinforcement sensitivity theory. The study was conducted using focus groups within the SuProtivA project in Zagreb, Split, Rijeka and Osijek. There were 78 participants, age 18 to 30. As expected, the results indicate a larger rate of involvement of the youth in non-institutional (in regards to institutional) forms of political participation while their participation can be explained by growth motives, more accurately by the pursuit of satisfying love and belongingness needs, esteem needs and most of all self-actualization needs. As far as emotions are concerned, those that proved to be the strongest motivators of political participation are preferably strong negative emotions such as anger or rage triggered by the current situation, but also frustration, sadness and spite. However, positive emotions of enthusiasm, love and hope also happen to motivate political participation. The core emotion which encourages withdrawal is the feeling of helplessness. Fear, as well as contempt and disgust can in some cases be motivating, while in others they are demotivating determinant of political and civic engagement of the participants.
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