School of Political Science, University of Haifa, Israel.
Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2011 Nov;21(11):789-95. doi: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2011.03.003. Epub 2011 Apr 11.
Faced with stressful experiences, such as uncertainty or novelty, the adrenal glands secrete glucocorticoid hormones to help us cope with stress. Since many decision-making situations are stressful, there is reason to believe that voting is a stressful event. In this study, we asked voters in Israel's national election (N=113) to report on their general affective state immediately before entering the polling place using the Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and to provide us with a saliva sample through which we could evaluate their cortisol levels. Compared to a second sample of voters who reported their affective state on election night (N=70), we found that voters at the ballot box had higher positive and negative affect. Moreover, our voters at the polling place exhibited cortisol levels that were significantly higher than their own normal levels obtained on a similar day, and significantly higher than those of a second control group sampled the day after the elections (N=6). Our data demonstrate that elections are exciting, yet stressful events, and it is this stress, among other factors, that elevates the cortisol levels of voters. Since elevated cortisol has been found to affect memory consolidation, impair memory retrieval and lead to risk-seeking behavior, we discuss how these outcomes of elevated cortisol levels may affect voting in general and the field of electoral studies in particular.
面对压力体验，如不确定性或新奇性，肾上腺分泌糖皮质激素帮助我们应对压力。由于许多决策情况是有压力的，因此有理由相信投票是一个有压力的事件。在这项研究中，我们要求以色列全国选举中的选民（N=113）使用积极和消极情绪量表（PANAS）在进入投票站之前立即报告他们的一般情绪状态，并通过唾液样本，我们可以评估他们的皮质醇水平。与报告选举夜情绪状态的第二组选民（N=70）相比，我们发现投票站的选民具有更高的积极和消极情绪。此外，我们在投票站的选民的皮质醇水平明显高于他们在类似日子获得的正常水平，也明显高于选举后第二天抽样的第二组对照组（N=6）。我们的数据表明，选举是令人兴奋但有压力的事件，正是这种压力以及其他因素，导致选民的皮质醇水平升高。由于皮质醇升高已被发现会影响记忆巩固、损害记忆检索并导致冒险行为，因此我们讨论了这些皮质醇水平升高的结果如何影响一般投票，特别是选举研究领域。
