How reminders of death affect our politics

2020-11-10

We’ve just finished an incredibly contentious presidential election in the U.S.* so it’s the perfect time to look at one of the most important aspects of politics: advertising. Political ads urge us to vote one way or another, of course. But an intriguing area of social psychology called terror management theory argues that a primal, hidden force is often at work in these messages—mortality reminders that trigger our emotions, particularly our primitive, unconscious fear of death. In this episode...

We’ve just finished an incredibly contentious presidential election in the U.S.* so it’s the perfect time to look at one of the most important aspects of politics: advertising.

Political ads urge us to vote one way or another, of course. But an intriguing area of social psychology called terror management theory argues that a primal, hidden force is often at work in these messages—mortality reminders that trigger our emotions, particularly our primitive, unconscious fear of death.

In this episode—part of my End Points series in which I explore different end-of-life topics intersecting with culture, science, and more—I break down terror management theory and its argument about political ads, including ones aired this year by both President-elect Biden and President Trump.

And, as usual, I share my daily mortality mantras with you. I say both to myself every morning, usually during the ice cold shower I take shortly after getting out of bed to help wake my groggy ass up and start the day off right. I hope they help you as much as they help me.

Sources: here (scroll down once you’re there)

*Notwithstanding the efforts of President Trump and other Republicans to challenge the results.

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Thanks for listening. Until next time, stay mortality minded.

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