The Politics of Emotion

Happy Al

Drew Westen is a psychologist and brain researcher who has written extensively on the role of emotions in politics. The article, appearing in the LA Times, is worth a glance. He chides Democrats for failing to utilize emotional arguments to make their case, and cites several examples of Democratic ineptitude when facing a crisis or responding to a particular charge or challenge. If they are to have any succees in the future, he warns, they will have to immerse their political strategy in emotions rather than facts and data. He makes good points, but ever since the 2000 elections, all I hear from Democrats are emotional screeds tinctured with blind, hysterical anger. It is their staggering paucity of ideas and policies that has lead to their misfortunes. There is always room for legitimate criticism but there is a need for solutions as well. Elections cannot be won simply by rattling off a litany of grievances. It is also a bit troublesome that Westen is encouraging a new political discourse based primarily on emotions, rather than facts or logic. Regardless, it is still a good read. The address to the LA Times article is given below the pull-quotes that I found most salient.

"In his new book, "The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation," Westen, who is not affiliated with a particular candidate, lays out his argument that Democrats must connect emotionally with the American electorate — and that he can teach them how."

"The political brain is an emotional brain," he said. "It prefers conclusions that are emotionally satisfying rather than conclusions that match the data."

"Similarly, when you refuse to dignify an attack, it gives the other side exclusive rights to the network of associations that constitute public opinion and particular feelings — which is what decides elections."

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-guru9jul09,0,3671214.story?coll=la-home-center

Happy Howard