ELECTORAL BEHAVIORAL MODELS IN SWEDEN AND NORWAY: A PSYCHOPOLITICAL PERSPECTIVE

The article analyses electoral behaviour in Norway and Sweden through the framework of three distinct models: an emotion-driven model (group-based voting), an individualistic model (economic voting), and an institutionally oriented model (trade union- or organisation-based voting). The findings contribute to the systematisation of voting trends among the Swedish and Norwegian electorates and provide insights into the geographical, economic, and psychopolitical factors influencing voting patterns. A mixed-methods research design was applied. Quantitative methods were applied to analyse electoral data, and qualitative methods were used to explore the psycho-behavioural factors underlying these voting patterns. The results of exit polls from the 2022 Swedish election highlight key issues shaping political engagement, distinguishing them based on ideological orientation and the policy agendas of specific electoral blocs. These issues include climate change threats, social exclusion, immigration, integration, and security. Ideological orientation, party allegiance, and political preferences are primary determinants of voter behaviour, with motivation structured according to the Law of Effect. The article explores the interrelations between political parties and their electorates, analysing the effectiveness of various electoral campaign strategies. Changes in voter mobilisation approaches and the increasing politicisation of immigration have contributed to the emergence of a distinct subgroup within the group-based voting model. This phenomenon is particularly evident among ethnic and national minorities (e.g., individuals of migrant origin) and groups with varying educational backgrounds, as illustrated by the 2021 Norwegian parliamentary election context.