Behavioral neuroscience in political science and public administration

Fabian Hattke, associate professor at the Department of Administration and Organization Theory will give a 30-minute presentation, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A. The event is in a hybrid format, you are welcome to join us for lunch from the Corner room at DIGSSCORE. Food is provided on a first-come first-served basis.

Click here for digital attendance.

Abstract:

Behavioral neuroscience is an emerging area of scholarly interest that explores interactions between the nervous system and its environment. Broadly defined, it comprises the theories and methods concerned with the physiological reactions to experimental stimuli. Behavioral neuroscience evolved as an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of medicine, biology, and computer science with recent offshoots in economics (neuroeconomics), sociology (social neuroscience), and management (organizational neuroscience). 

Fabian’s talk introduces selected neuroscientific methods and illustrates first applications in political science and public administration. He then presents examples from laboratory studies on emotional responses to administrative procedures and discusses methodological and ethical challenges to the application of neuroscientific methods in our field. 
 

Bio:

Fabian Hattke is an Associate Professor at the Department of Administration and Organization Theory at the University of Bergen. He is also a Visiting Professor at the Chair for Organization and Leadership at the University of Hamburg and affiliated with the Center for Higher Education and Science Studies at the University of Zürich. The aim of Fabian’s research is to improve public sector organizations so they can provide a high quality of public goods. His current projects concern the “dark side” of bureaucracy, public leadership, emergency management, and the historical development of public administration scholarship.