High Stress Situation
Not even counting all of the other pandemic stress, we have this unbelievably testy election coming up. A lot of people are really cranky with anyone who sees anything different from what they see and believe themselves.
How did we get so incredibly polarized, so intolerant of the “Other.” For sure, this didn’t start with the current president but, I agree, whoa, it’s gotten really bad. And I’m scratching my head trying to figure out what the heck is going on.
What’s Going On?
For one thing, back in the day when our modern human brains were being formed, it is likely that those who stuck with their own, and were wary of others who were different, had better chances of survival. And those who survived got their genes into the next generation and the next and so on ‘til here we are. So the idea that we are hardwired with radar for “Other” makes sense.
Then again, we have a higher cortex now that allows us to override our primitive nature, and where is that when we need it, like now.
I, for one, do not expect the polarization to weaken no matter who wins. It might even get worse when the election is over, if it is ever over.
Take a look at this Duke University study that crossed my desk, “Desire to Be in a Group Leads to Harsher Judgment of Others.” It’s only one study, but what they found was that it was not the strength of one’s political views—but the desire to be ‘groupy’ itself—that made people more likely to discriminate against people outside of their group.
Out, Out damned two party system. But what is the alternative to the tribal ‘I’m good; you’re bad. I’m right; you’re wrong’ that we are so locked into now?
What Would Help?
I actually do not know what would be a better alternative. The Danish multi-party Parliament, as depicted in Season 1 of Borgen on Netflix, does not appear to be it. But I do believe that when we find it — when we are able to transcend party in some constructive way — the extremes of each party will weaken. Then we can all start to live in a world that feels a little more sane than the one in which we live now.
And wouldn’t that be nice. Keep on doin’ what we are doin’, keep on getting what we get. So please let us know what you think could work better than the way we are doing things now.
Warm wishes,
Madelaine
I agree with you on desire to be in a group makes you do things that are wrong just to fit in. Because we all want to be part of a group. Dem or rep now
Thanks for writing, Mary. Again, it’s only one study but agree it does seem that tribalism (or identity grouping) rules for now, and for who knows how long.
Thank you Madelaine for this important message, a must share for these times. I love it cause you always give us a historical and/or science based explanation to help us understand the issues, I agree that this divisiveness, sadly will not go away any time soon.
…agree, Ana, that it is sad, but my money’s on us to figure it out. As I wrote last time, there is evidence of harmony and cooperation among us as well.
I actually think who leads matters. Role modeling matters. Decency matters. Empathy matters.
Needed steps: Get rid of electoral college and insure fair and safe voting. (My experience working at polls is that many voters get turned away needlessly.). Get new leaders in who act in ways that message positively. Don’t sink into gutter. Democracy is hard. So we need to find candidates who aren’t afraid to be decent and who can listen.
My real beef is that government does not work. Too complex; too big; too much corporatization and lobbying.
As to group pressure, think about religion and think about race. We always have the ins and the outs. But we have had remarkable leaders and they message above the fray. They inspire. Where are they?????
HI Karen, thanks for weighing in. On its face, who could argue? And then there is this, from two very fine Yale b-school professors who taught me at BU:
Systems get the leadership they need at the time they need it.
Wait, what? but for any who want to lean into this perspective for a second, we could ask how did we get here and what is there to learn—each of us looking at ourselves asking “What can i do to make the world more respectful of people who see things differently, less Us v Them.” One person at a time. Grassroots. IOW, be the change we want to see (Ghandi)
Your evolutionary hypotheses is a much needed timely reminder about our endowed species resilience attributes. And the coping skills methods you encourage will surely be helpful to “get a grip.” An American Psychological Association “Stress in America” survey earlier this year concurred that more than half (56%) of respondents identified the 2020 election as a significant stressor. The CDC reported that the prevalence of anxiety symptoms among all populations was 3 times higher than in the corresponding period in 2019, and especially pronounced among young adults and among Blacks and Latinos of all ages. The current issue of Psychiatric Times (October 2020, vol. XXXVII, No. 10) capsulizes this in an article titled “Presidential Election Anxiety and the Role of Psychiatry.” Psychiatrist H. Steven Moffic emphasizes “plenty of reasons”: coronavirus pandemic, the economy, climate instability, physician burnout, an endless war on terrorism, returning to the classroom (or not), racism, among other societal and personal stressors,” even aside from the potential still for the nuclear risk “that could blot out human life on earth in virtually an instant,” and the presidential election in the midst of partisan political warfare, civil unrest, frightening conspiracy theories, and the internet. In the same issue, Psychiatrist Ronald W. Pies wonders “Is the Country Experiencing a Mental Health Pandemic?” — as you suggest, no better time to “practice, practice, practice” mindfully!
WOW, Steven, thank you for all that data. I’m printing it out. And as always, for your support of the ideas here. Means so much! Thank you!