Benjamin Kantack

Benjamin Kantack is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Lycoming College. He teaches courses in American politics, public policy, public opinion, and research methods. His academic work centers on political psychology and political behavior, with a focus on how citizens process political information and form judgments.

Research Interests: Kantack's primary research areas include motivated reasoning, political persuasion, citizen competence, and democratic accountability. His work explores the psychological mechanisms underlying political judgment, particularly how individuals interpret evidence in ideologically consistent ways and how this affects democratic processes. He investigates the role of identity, emotion, and misinformation in shaping public opinion and political behavior.

The trends in his recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on cognitive and affective dimensions of political behavior. His work spans subfields such as political cognition, attitude formation, electoral behavior, and science communication, often drawing from interdisciplinary perspectives in psychology and communication studies. The articles demonstrate a consistent focus on understanding the limits and possibilities of rationality in democratic citizenship.

Academic Background:

• B.A. in Political Science and Spanish, University of Nebraska
• M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Illinois

Teaching & Professional Experience: Prior to joining Lycoming College, Kantack taught at the University of Georgia and Georgia Gwinnett College. He advises undergraduate research and mentors students in political science. Although specific grants are not listed, his research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as Political Research Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, and the Journal of Political Science.

Laboratories & Research Teams: While no formal lab or research team is mentioned, Kantack likely supervises student research projects and collaborates with scholars in political psychology and behavioral political science.