Psychological Governance and Public Policy ─ Governing the Mind, Brain and Behaviour

There have been significant developments in the state of psychological, neuroscientific and behavioural scientific knowledge relating to the human mind, brain, action and decision-making over the past two decades. Little attention has been paid to examining the wider political and ethical significance of the wide-spread use of psychological governance techniques. There is a pressing and recognised need to address the behaviour change agenda in relation to how our cultural ideas about the brain, mind, behaviour and self are changing.

This book provides a critical account of existing forms of psychological governance in relation to public policy. With contributions from leading scholars across the social sciences, chapters identify practical and political challenges posed by the current policy enthusiasm for particular branches of affective neuroscience, behavioural economics, positive psychology and happiness economics. The core focus of this book is to investigate the ways in which ‘psychological resilience’ has become an ideal archetype for individual, community and national wellbeing or flourishing.

Jessica Pykett is a social and political geographer at the University of Birmingham, UK.

Rhys Jones is Professor of Human Geography at Aberystwyth University, UK.

Mark Whitehead is Professor of Human Geography at Aberystwyth University, UK.