Cognitive closure and the price of certainty
"during times of fear and anxiety — like, for example, right now — everybody’s need for closure increases. We tend to make judgments more quickly, regardless of the facts. We’re also drawn to leaders who are decisive and paint solutions in simple terms. After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Dr. Kruglanski and his team of researchers found that as the color-coded terrorism threat system increased, support for President George W. Bush went up accordingly. The more uncertain our world seems, the more we compensate by seeking out certainty."
(Daniele Anastasion, 1 November 2016, The New York Times)
CONTRIBUTOR
Simon PerkinsSHARE
The War On Terror and other conservative catchphrases
"The word terror activates your fear, and fear activates the strict father model, which is what conservatives want. The 'war on terror' is not about stopping you from being afraid, it's about making you afraid."
(George Lakoff, 2004)
George Lakoff (2004). "Don't Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate", Chelsea Green Publishing.
[George Lakoff uses the metaphor of the family to explain contemporary American conservative politics. He draws a distinction between a strict father model and a nurturing parents model. He believes that George Bush and his conservative cronies evoke the strict father model as a mechanism for enforcing control and reframing debate around issues of security and self–interest. The conservatives in Australia appear to be following a similar line – evident in their anti–terrorism campaign, played–out through television advertisements and train station billboards.]
CONTRIBUTOR
The Constellations ProjectSHARE
