Neuroliberalism: Cognition, context, and the geographical bounding of rationality. (August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Whitehead, Mark; Jones, Rhys; Lilley, Rachel; Howell, Rachel; Pykett, Jessica
• Is Part Of: Progress in human geography. Volume 43:Number 4(2019)
• Page Start: 632
• Page End: 649
• Publication Date: 2019-08
• Subjects: behaviour change -- context -- irrationality -- neoliberalism -- neuroliberalism; Human geography -- Periodicals; 304.2
• DOI: 10.1177/0309132518777624
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-1325

Abstract

Focusing on the rise of the behavioural sciences within the design and implementation of public policy, this paper introduces the concept of neuroliberalism and suggests that it could offer a creative context within which to interpret related governmental developments. Understanding neuroliberalism as a system of government that targets the more-than-rational aspects of human behaviour, this paper considers the particular contribution that geographical theories of context and spatial representation can make to a critical analysis of this evolving governmental project