‘Votes are cast based on rational decisions, right?’ (Zaria Gorvett) As I watched the former leader of a very influential nation speak on TV last night with what came across (to me, at least) as a mishmash of delusions and mistruths, I felt, to put it mildly, both bemused and dismayed. This felt even more so because current polls in that country point to a distinct possibility, if not yet a probability, that that person could actually be re-elected to that position of power. I found myself asking myself, ‘What kind of craziness would compel people to vote for this person? How can’t they see through the nonsensical and narcissistic rhetoric?’ Shaking my head with a deep sigh, I got up to make a cup of tea. Suddenly (I don’t know if it was the caffeine), a revelation hit me. I flashed back to some years ago in Germany, watching a 1-hour interview with Angela Merkel on TV. She was at the height of her leadership that year and, to be honest, I could hardly understand a word she said. My German language skills simply weren't up to it. Yet, somehow…I found her absolutely mesmerising. Something about her style, presence and tone subtly seduced me. I would have voted for her. I would have married her! Maybe. This took me back, next, to the Brexit-EU psychodrama in the UK. At that time, arguments flew back and forth vociferously in favour of Leave or Remain. Little I heard on either side bore much resemblance to evidential reality. Noticeably, most people I spoke with voted on instinct, on gut-feel intuition, and were swayed little by spurious claims or counterclaims. Boris Johnson, who won that game (by a narrow margin), played subconsciously on cultural memories of Winston Churchill, the lone hero who stood alone against overwhelming internal and external odds. So, an ex-President, an ex-Bundeskanzlerin and an ex-Prime Minister. It's far more than the words they say. It’s what they symbolise and represent. It’s how they make people feel.
12 Comments
Marcus Watts
6/3/2024 09:20:48 am
Very perceptive Nick. Outside the USA, we don't understand why people in USA vote for Trump. But so many Americans do. Why do they vote for him? Don't they care about democracy?
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Nick Wright
6/3/2024 05:05:08 pm
Thank you, Marcus. They are good questions and, as someone who isn't from or in the USA, I honestly don't know the answers.
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Emily Parker
6/3/2024 09:21:43 am
Hey Nick. You would marry Merkel? That made me laugh! And I think she's already married. :)
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Nick Wright
6/3/2024 05:05:41 pm
Hi Emily. You made me laugh too! :)
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Jon Masters
6/3/2024 09:23:03 am
When was Boris like Churchill? Boris discredited himself by lying and holding parties. Churchill wasn't like that at all.
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Nick Wright
6/3/2024 05:12:48 pm
Hi Jon. An example was in 2019 when Boris Johnson deliberately confronted huge and ferocious opposition in the House of Commons to what he described provocatively as 'The Surrender Act' and 'The Abject Capitulation Act'. (see: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/09/28/boris-johnson-interview-surrender-act-like-abject-capitulation/)
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Martine Elverton
6/3/2024 09:24:00 am
Interesting piece, Nick. What's a "cultural memory"?
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Nick Wright
6/3/2024 05:15:07 pm
Thanks Martine. Here's an interesting article on that topic by the National Geographic: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/cultural-memory/
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Francis Daniels
6/3/2024 09:26:32 am
You got me thinking. Do you mean it doesn't matter to Americans what Trump says. How many times he lies. How he calls truth fake news. They vote for him anyway? That scares me. And a lot of other people in the world.
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Nick Wright
6/3/2024 05:25:14 pm
Hi Francis. I'm not sure if it's as absolute as that. My sense would be that he says things that resonate with what his supporters already believe to be true, or want to be true, or both. (see:https://www.nick-wright.com/blog/wishful-thinking)
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RW
6/3/2024 04:02:52 pm
Ist es in der Wissenschaft nicht schon seit längerem bekannt, dass bei Vorträgen das Gefühl zu nahezu 80% über Zustimmung oder Ablehnung bestimmt? Die Sachentscheidung mit 5% hinter allem Anderen hinterher hinkt? In Amerika dachte man schon mal nach, ob ein Präsident nach Aussehen und Wirkung ausgesucht werden sollte. Gut bei Trump ist es eher die Stimmung aus dem Volk, welche Trump auffängt und eigene Thesen als Wahrheit mit Emotionen und mit immer wiederholten Lügen in stark polemischer Art unter das Volk mischt. Flankiert durch interessengeleitetem Richtungsjournalismus werden Lügen zu unumstößlichen Wahrheiten. Und dazu kommt noch die Komplexität der Realität: Ich bin zu inkompetent um die Sachverhalte zu verstehen, irgend jemand da oben muss ich doch glauben. In all der Unsicherheit und einhergehender Ängstlichkeit sagt das Gefühl jenen zu Glauben, die nach außen hin mein desolates Wesen auffangen zu wissen. Am besten eingekleidet in schwarz und weiß denken. So weit meine Analyse dazu: Aber was machen wir damit?
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Nick Wright
6/3/2024 04:14:43 pm
Hallo RW. Ja, es ist interessant zu sehen, wie viel Forschung die Idee unterstützt, dass einige unserer wichtigsten Entscheidungen auf Emotionen und Intuition basieren, trotz unserer Bemühungen (einschließlich nachträglicher Rationalisierungen), uns und andere davon zu überzeugen, dass sie auf logischen Argumenten beruhten. Grund und Beweis.
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Nick WrightI'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? Get in touch! Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
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