Hello!
My name is Max Magaña. I am an independent political science researcher studying political behavior, social identity, social capital, hierarchy, intergroup conflict, and polarization.
I am currently writing a short book based on my dissertation proposal developing a framework for understanding how parties function as superordinate coalitions in two-party systems, how hierarchy orientation structures partisan sorting and the psychological strtucture of partisanship, and how parties help identifiers adapt to prolonged political conflict through narratives, which contribute to polarization.
I received my M.A. in political science from Louisiana State University (LSU). Unfortunately, I was a doctoral candidate at LSU but left due to a family emergency and was unable to resume. My curiosity for understanding human behavior, social organization, and how people create meaning drive my research interests. More broadly, my research interests include political psychology, social psychology, public opinion, intergroup relations, political engagement, and media effects.
I currently live in California's Central Valley, where my family are small farmers. Some of my hobby interests include evolutionary psychology, game theory, social theory, philosophy of science, and complex social systems.
Thank you for your time!