Political Theatre category archive

Writing at Psychology Today Blogs, Jennifer Latson explores how exposure to constant repetition can wear down skepticism, cater to credulousness, and foster falsehoods, so that truth gets lost. Here’s a bit (emphasis added):

The marketing term “effective frequency” refers to the idea that a consumer has to see or hear an ad a number of times before its message hits home. Essentially, the more you say something, the more it sticks in — and possibly on — people’s heads. It doesn’t even have to be true — and that’s the problem. What advertisers call “effective frequency,” psychologists call the “illusory truth effect”: the more you hear something, the easier it is for your brain to process, which makes it feel true, regardless of its basis in fact.

In her piece, she goes on to explore other human tendencies that make us susceptible to such subterfuge, while also pointing out that, in these days of digital deluges of dubious diatribes and a blatherscape of blaring botnets, staying aware of facts and identifying falsity is increasingly important.

Aside:

I suggest “Fox News Effect” as shorthand for this phenomenon.

At Psychology Today Blogs, Charles Johnston muses on what seems to be the political strategy of the current occupant of the White House. A snippet:

With the election polls trending poorly for the current president in the U.S., there is really only one kind of strategy that remains if he is to be reelected. It might seem exactly backwards, but it has always been much of the current president’s strategy (though just how conscious this has been I am not sure). And Democrats seem always ready to play along. That strategy is to generate maximum discord and polarization.

Follow the link for his thoughts on why and how this just might–and he metaphorically emphasizes “might”–work.

At the Inky, Will Bunch weighs in.

Experiments fail, even noble ones.

I find myself bemused when persons refer to Trump’s “accomplishments.” He neither is accomplished nor has he accomplished anything in any way, unless incoherent blather counts as an “accomplishment.”

Image via Job’s Anger.

Image via Juanita Jean.

Tony Norman is disturbed by the devolution of the discoarse.

Experiments fail, even noble ones.

Martin Longman explains.

Have a preview of the upcoming week in political theatre.

As it’s a spoiler, I’ve tucked it below the fold.

Read more »

Kyle Whitmire looks at the two major presidential candidates and boils the contrast down to its essence:

This election is a choice between empathy and meanness.

Follow the link for his reasoning.

In related news . . . .

It’s not uncommon to hear the Trumpettes refered to as a cult. Indeed, the devotion of some his followers despite the facts and reality has often been referred to as cult-like.

At Psychology Today Blogs, John Edward Terrell makes an interesting argument that Donald Trump may indeed be behaving as a cult leader, specifically, a “cargo cult” leader.

Methinks his piece is worth a peek.