Proximity and Directional Theories of Voting

This lecture was given in PS 240 on October 15th.

1. Explain the directional and proximity theories of voter behavior.

Lecture Material

Proximity Theory: Argues that all other things being equal, the voter will choose the candidate who is least distant from them. Proximity theory works on the assumption that it's possible to plot people and parties to place them in relation to each other. Typically all issues are weighted equally in Proximity Theory. The median position is most likely to win votes according to this theory.

Directional Theory: Voters prefer candidates with the clear policy stances. According to this theory voters listen the most to candidates who are on the same "side of the fence" as them with the clearest message of having that position, ie if the voter is left of center, they will support the Party or candidate whose left of center position is most obvious. The median position is the least likely to win votes according to this theory.

I believe in class we discussed that a candidate whose either the farthest left or right wins the primary but the candidate whose closest to the middle wins the general election. So the Directional theory would be more associated with the primary and the proximity theory would be more relate able to the general election.