Psychology of Failure: How Do Female Candidates Experience and Respond to Loss Aversion? A Phenomenological Study of the 2024 Indonesian General Election
Keywords:
Election, Female, Legislative candidate, Loss aversion
Abstract
Aim: This study examines the loss aversion experiences of female legislative candidates who were unsuccessful in Indonesia’s 2024 election, focusing on the emotional and psychological impact of electoral defeat.
Methodology: Using a qualitative phenomenological method, ten female candidates who were not elected shared their experiences. Thematic analysis revealed significant financial, emotional, and social losses, amplified by gender-based stigma and societal expectations. Participants employed coping strategies such as reframing failure as a learning process and spiritual growth.
Findings: Loss aversion the tendency to feel losses more deeply than equivalent gains—emerges as a key barrier for women in politics. Participants employed coping strategies such as reframing failure as a learning process and spiritual growth. Loss aversion strongly influenced their self-perception, motivation, and future political ambitions.
Implications/Novel Contribution: The findings underscore the need for targeted support to help women navigate post-election challenges and remain engaged in politics. Enhanced backing from families, political parties, and broader society is crucial to building women’s resilience and promoting sustained political participation.
References
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Kanthak, K., & Woon, J. (2015). Women don’t run? election aversion and candidate entry. American Journal of Political Science, 59(3), 595-612.
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Piscopo, J. M. (2021). Strategies for supporting women candidates: Financial resources and institutional backing. Politics & Gender, 17(4), 545-562.
Prihatini, E. (2021). Explaining gender gaps in Indonesian legislative committees. Parliamentary Affairs, 74(1), 206-229.
Rau, H. A. (2014). The disposition effect and loss aversion: Do gender differences matter? Economics Letters, 123(1), 33-36.
Reingold, B. (2007). Gender and elections: Shaping the future of american politics. by susan j. carroll and richard l. fox, eds. new york: Cambridge university press, 2006. xv, 223 pp. hardcover 22.99. Politics & Gender, 3(3), 419-421.
Ritzer, G., & Stepnisky, J. (2022). Contemporary sociological theory and its classical roots: The basics. Sage Publications.
Sanbonmatsu, K. (2010). Where women run: Gender and party in the american states. University of Michigan Press.
Shiller, R. J. (2020). Narrative economics: How stories go viral and drive major economic events.
Siregar, W. Z. B. (2005). Parliamentary representation of women in Indonesia: The struggle for a quota. Asian Journal of Women’s Studies, 11(3), 36-72.
Smith, J. A. (2024). Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods.
Subandi, M. (2009). Psikologi dzikir: Studi fenomenologi pengalaman transformasi religius. Pustaka Pelajar.
Thomsen, D. M., & King, B. (2020). (). women, money, and politics: Examining gender differences in fundraising and donor networks in congressional elections. American Political Science Review, 114(3), 763-779.
Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1991). Loss aversion in riskless choice: A reference-dependent model. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 106(4), 1039-1061.
Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1992). Advances in prospect theory: Cumulative representation of uncertainty. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 5, 297-323.
UNW. (20232). Women in Politics 2023: Women’s participation in politics is still far from equality. Retrieved from https://shorturl.at/TtEmg
Van Dijk, W. W., Zeelenberg, M., & Van der Pligt, J. (2003). Blessed are those who expect nothing: Lowering expectations as a way of avoiding disappointment. Journal of Economic Psychology, 24(4), 505-516.
Bauer, N. M. (2020). The qualifications gap: Why women must be better than men to win political office. Cambridge University Press.
Beltim, F. N., Ranto, R., & Saputra, P. P. (2021). Motivasi keterlibatan calon legislatif perempuan pada pemilu 2019 di kota pangkalpinang. Jurnal sosial dan sains, 1(8), 751-757.
Bjarnegård, E. (2013). Gender, informal institutions and political recruitment: Explaining male dominance in parliamentary representation. Springer.
Blau, F. D., & Kahn, L. M. (2017). The gender wage gap: Extent, trends, and explanations. Journal of Economic Literature, 55(3), 789-865.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101.
Budiatri, A. (2018)). Political financing and women’s representation in indonesian parliament. Jurnal Penelitian Politik, 15(2), 147-165.
Christensen, H. S., Hansen, M. A., & Saikkonen, I. (2024). Gender and support for undemocratic politicians. European Journal of Politics and Gender, 1-24.
Dittmar, K. (2015). Navigating gendered terrain: Stereotypes and strategy in political campaigns. Temple University Press.
Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random house.
Dwiastono, R., & Priambodo, O. B. (2019). Stories of failed legislative candidates, from those with mental disorders to those who never give up. Retrieved from https://shorturl.at/wK4as
Franceschet, S., Krook, M. L., & Piscopo, J. M. (2012). The impact of gender quotas. OUP USA.
Fredrickson, B. L. (2001). The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. American Psychologist, 56(3), 218.
Gilbert, P. (2017). Compassion as a social mentality: An evolutionary approach. In Compassion. Routledge.
Hayat., W. (2023). Fantastis! modal jadi caleg bikin syok, butuh segini diambil dari.
Hensel, H. J., L., & Roth, C. (2022). Loss aversion in politics: Evidence from electoral outcomes. Political Psychology, 43(2), 217-234.
Holman, M. R., & Schneider, M. C. (2018). Gender, race, and political ambition: how intersectionality and frames influence interest in political office. Politics, Groups, and Identities, 6(2), 264-280.
Kahneman, D. (1979). Prospect theory: An analysis of decisions under risk. Econometrica, 47, 278.
Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (2013). Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk. In Handbook of the fundamentals of financial decision making: Part i. World Scientific.
Kanthak, K., & Woon, J. (2015). Women don’t run? election aversion and candidate entry. American Journal of Political Science, 59(3), 595-612.
Karp, J. A., & Banducci, S. A. (2020). Gender, electoral defeat, and political ambition. Political Research Quarterly, 73(3), 589-602.
Krook, M. L. (2017). Violence against women in politics. Journal of Democracy, 28(1), 74-88.
Lawless, J. L., & Fox, R. L. (2018). Women, men & US politics: Ten big questions.
Lazarus, R. S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. Springer.
Li, Y., Van Dam, N. T., Wang, Z., Zhou, J., Xu, P., & Luo, Y. (2024). The role of loss aversion in social conformity: psychological and neural representations. Cerebral Cortex, 34(10), bhae414.
Mahoney, A. M. (2016). One more time. center for american women and politics. Retrieved from https://shorturl.at/iR2Na
Maier, S. F., & Seligman, M. E. (1976). Learned helplessness: theory and evidence. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 105(1), 3.
Margono-Slamet, Y. B. (2021). Socio-political engagement of contemporary javanese literature. GEMA Online Journal of Language Studies, 21(3).
Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (2014). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. In College student development and academic life. Routledge.
Mietzner, M. (2013). Money, power, and ideology. Flipside Digital Content Company Inc.
Neff, K. D. (2011). Self-compassion, self-esteem, and well-being. Social and Psersonality Psychology Compass, 5(1), 1-12.
Nurhayati, S. (2019). Perempuan dalam pemilu 2019, antara harapan dan kenyataan . diakases dari. Retrieved from https://shorturl.at/ofrd1
Oshri, O., Harsgor, L., Itzkovitch-Malka, R., & Tuttnauer, O. (2023). Risk aversion and the gender gap in the vote for populist radical right parties. American Journal of Political Science, 67(3), 701-717.
Peveri, J., & Sangnier, M. (2023). Gender differences in re-contesting decisions: New evidence from French municipal elections. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 214, 574-594.
Piscopo, J. M. (2021). Strategies for supporting women candidates: Financial resources and institutional backing. Politics & Gender, 17(4), 545-562.
Prihatini, E. (2021). Explaining gender gaps in Indonesian legislative committees. Parliamentary Affairs, 74(1), 206-229.
Rau, H. A. (2014). The disposition effect and loss aversion: Do gender differences matter? Economics Letters, 123(1), 33-36.
Reingold, B. (2007). Gender and elections: Shaping the future of american politics. by susan j. carroll and richard l. fox, eds. new york: Cambridge university press, 2006. xv, 223 pp. hardcover 22.99. Politics & Gender, 3(3), 419-421.
Ritzer, G., & Stepnisky, J. (2022). Contemporary sociological theory and its classical roots: The basics. Sage Publications.
Sanbonmatsu, K. (2010). Where women run: Gender and party in the american states. University of Michigan Press.
Shiller, R. J. (2020). Narrative economics: How stories go viral and drive major economic events.
Siregar, W. Z. B. (2005). Parliamentary representation of women in Indonesia: The struggle for a quota. Asian Journal of Women’s Studies, 11(3), 36-72.
Smith, J. A. (2024). Qualitative psychology: A practical guide to research methods.
Subandi, M. (2009). Psikologi dzikir: Studi fenomenologi pengalaman transformasi religius. Pustaka Pelajar.
Thomsen, D. M., & King, B. (2020). (). women, money, and politics: Examining gender differences in fundraising and donor networks in congressional elections. American Political Science Review, 114(3), 763-779.
Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1991). Loss aversion in riskless choice: A reference-dependent model. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 106(4), 1039-1061.
Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1992). Advances in prospect theory: Cumulative representation of uncertainty. Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, 5, 297-323.
UNW. (20232). Women in Politics 2023: Women’s participation in politics is still far from equality. Retrieved from https://shorturl.at/TtEmg
Van Dijk, W. W., Zeelenberg, M., & Van der Pligt, J. (2003). Blessed are those who expect nothing: Lowering expectations as a way of avoiding disappointment. Journal of Economic Psychology, 24(4), 505-516.
Published
2024-06-19
How to Cite
Uswatun Hasanah, Imam Faisal Hamzah, & Fatmah Bagis. (2024). Psychology of Failure: How Do Female Candidates Experience and Respond to Loss Aversion? A Phenomenological Study of the 2024 Indonesian General Election. Journal of Advanced Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 9(2), 26-36. https://doi.org/10.26500/JARSSH-09-2024-0203
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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