Kevin B. Smith

Kevin Smith studies the biology and psychology of individual-level differences in political attitudes and behavior. In other words, he is interested in why some people are passionate about politics while others couldn’t care less, where conservatives and liberals get their political beliefs from, why those beliefs are so resistant to change, and how those beliefs drive choices and actions. He also retains a strong interest in public policy and state politics, which were his primary research interests during the first part of his academic career. His most recent book, "The Jailer’s Reckoning: How Mass Incarceration Is Damaging America," was published in 2024.