Casey A. Klofstad
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About Casey
Klofstad’s teaching and research addresses how society and biology influence human decision-making. Through a ten-year panel study of college undergraduates who were randomly assigned to their dormitories, he has shown that everyday casual conversations about politics can cause people to become more active civically. More recently he has conducted experiments that show that voters are biased in favor of candidates with lower-pitched voices. This bias potentially contributes to the underrepresentation of women in government and other positions of leadership. His time at the University of Miami has also led to his interest in immigrant political behavior. Klofstad has also conducted research on the political behavior of elected officials.
Contributions
Talking about Politics Boosts Civic Participation
No Jargon Podcast
In the News
Publications
Discusses how candidates' vocal characteristics influence voters' attitudes toward them. Explores how these impressionistic judgments can and do affect how we choose our leaders.
Shows that exposure to disagreeable conversations about politics has mixed effects on political preferences and civic involvement.
Shows that the bias in favor of candidates with lower-pitched – masculine – voices holds in the case of leadership positions that are traditionally held by women.
Shows that voters are biased in favor of candidates with lower pitched – masculine – voices.
Shows that the positive relationship between political discussion and civic participation lasts for years after the conversations took place.
Shows that the positive relationship between political discussion and political participation only occurs among individuals who are already civically engaged.
Shows that the mechanism underlying the positive relationship between political discussion and civic participation is recruitment; when we talk politics we are often times encouraged to become active civically.