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To beat Trump, we need to know why Americans keep voting for him. Psychologists may have the answer (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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US culture is an incubator of ‘extrinsic values’. Nobody embodies them like the Republican frontrunner

Many explanations are proposed for the continued rise of Donald Trump, and the steadfastness of his support, even as the outrages and criminal charges pile up. Some of these explanations are powerful. But there is one I have seen mentioned nowhere, which could, I believe, be the most important: Trump is king of the extrinsics.

Some psychologists believe our values tend to cluster around certain poles, described as “intrinsic” and “extrinsic”. People with a strong set of intrinsic values are inclined towards empathy, intimacy and self-acceptance. They tend to be open to challenge and change, interested in universal rights and equality, and protective of other people and the living world.

People at the extrinsic end of the spectrum are more attracted to prestige, status, image, fame, power and wealth. They are strongly motivated by the prospect of individual reward and praise. They are more likely to objectify and exploit other people, to behave rudely and aggressively and to dismiss social and environmental impacts. They have little interest in cooperation or community. People with a strong set of extrinsic values are more likely to suffer from frustration, dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety, anger and compulsive behaviour.

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[-] rottingleaf@lemmy.zip 1 points 10 months ago

Feels like some BS, using many words to separate the world into sane people and Trump (or his kind) supporters.

The author should pick a line between "inclination towards empathy, intimacy and self-acceptance" being attributed to one side and "dismissing social impacts" being attributed to another. Because "self-acceptance" is in direct conflict with "social impacts".

And a lynching crowd is a "social impact" too, for example.

Also behaving rudely and behaving aggressively is not the same. Most of time aggressive behavior is not rude and rude behavior is not aggressive in my personal social experience.

They have little interest in cooperation or community.

So every commenter here saying nothing meaningful except for "another part of my country consists of idiots and I'm of course smarter than them" is interested in cooperation and community?

However, I'm pleased by "intrinsic" here being something good and "extrinsic" being something bad. At least my kind of people is presented as the better kind for a difference.

are more likely to suffer from frustration, dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety, anger and compulsive behaviour

Well, of course people in pain would be less pleasant. But your usual average human would say that they are themselves to blame, because the universe is a fair game (except for market economics and climate change and gender dynamics, of course, here they do notice problems or pretend to notice), so let's just call them all idiots who should be stripped of voting rights or something.

[-] Randomgal@lemmy.ca 1 points 10 months ago

I agree with everything you said, except I think you chose a weird example. Burning flags especifically is a nuanced issue. I'd argue that a lot of liberas would be in favor of not burning flags, because of the harm principle you mentioned. There is no non-viopent situation in which you burn a flag, therefore laws like these tend to be supported by both sides.

[-] PanArab@lemm.ee -2 points 10 months ago

Because deep down many Americans dream of being outlaws on the run in the wild west being chased down by federales. They see themselves as the next Pancho and Lefty or Billie the Kid.

[-] go_go_gadget@lemmy.world -2 points 10 months ago

But can psychologists explain why neoliberal, procorporate "moderate" Democrats would rather lose to Trump than compromise with leftists?

[-] ZK686@lemmy.world -3 points 10 months ago

This is silly. The reason why people are voting for him is because he's NOT a Democrat. It's the same shit on both sides. Biden's a fucking idiot, and most Demcorats know this...yet, they will keep voting for him because he's NOT a Republican.

[-] Potatofish@lemmy.world 0 points 10 months ago

Nah, it's because Trump is far worse. They are not equivalent idiots.

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this post was submitted on 29 Jan 2024

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