Why Irrational Politics Appeals : Understanding the Allure of Trump

Across the United States and around the world, people are struggling to understand why so many turned to Donald Trump—an individual described as rude and insensitive at best, and as racist, hateful, and ignorant at worst—as their champion. Trump's nomination as the Republican presidential candidate, and his subsequent election to president of the United States, upended many long-held assumptions and beliefs about politics, such as the inevitable power of superfunding election syndicates and the need for presidential candidates to have governance experience and broad knowledge of domestic and foreign affairs. __Why Irrational Politics Appeals: Understanding the Allure of Trump__ takes a serious, scientific look at Trump and his politics against the backdrop of modern American society. It brings together experts from a variety of psychological and political science fields to answer the mystifying question of why people by the millions would follow a leader who to so many others seems unqualified, undiplomatic, and in opposition to previously established standards for a national leader. Readers will gain an understanding of how little a role rationality plays in political choices, particularly—but not always—among citizens of certain socioeconomic backgrounds; and why Trump's apparently divisive attitudes and prejudices, his lack of "political correctness," and his hubris appeal to so many voters. The book also raises questions about our democratic processes, and our need for more thoughtful political cultures to ensure that citizens are adequately prepared to make important leadership decisions that will affect the future of our nation's economy, social norms, and global safety. The 2016 election has inspired millions of U.S. citizens—and struck panic in the hearts of millions more. This book explains the allure of Trump, examines how Trump's success ties into the hopes and fears of many Americans, and calls into question the limitations of our democratic system. Across the United States and around the world, people are struggling to understand why so many turned to Donald Trump—an individual described as rude and insensitive at best, and as racist, hateful, and ignorant at worst—as their champion. Trump's nomination as the Republican presidential candidate, and his subsequent election to president of the United States, upended many long-held assumptions and beliefs about politics, such as the inevitable power of superfunding election syndicates and the need for presidential candidates to have governance experience and broad knowledge of domestic and foreign affairs. Why Irrational Politics Appeals: Understanding the Allure of Trump takes a serious, scientific look at Trump and his politics against the backdrop of modern American society. It brings together experts from a variety of psychological and political science fields to answer the mystifying question of why people by the millions would follow a leader who to so many others seems unqualified, undiplomatic, and in opposition to previously established standards for a national leader. Readers will gain an understanding of how little a role rationality plays in political choices, particularly—but not always—among citizens of certain socioeconomic backgrounds; and why Trump's apparently divisive attitudes and prejudices, his lack of "political correctness," and his hubris appeal to so many voters. The book also raises questions about our democratic processes, and our need for more thoughtful political cultures to ensure that citizens are adequately prepared to make important leadership decisions that will affect the future of our nation's economy, social norms, and global safety. Examines Donald Trump's ascendancy and elective allure from the perspectives of social, political, and evolutionary psychology as well as neuroscience and biopsychology Challenges readers to reconsider the process of electoral politics and political voting in the United States Considers how voting behavior and political choices are often based on emotions rather than on a rational, carefully considered decision-making process Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Chapter 1. Introductionn: All Too Human: The Allure of Donald Trump -- Who Were Trump's Initial Followers? -- Strangers to Ourselves -- Truth Is What We Believe -- Our Savannah Leader? -- We Prefer People Like Us -- We Like Beer Buddies -- Outside the Norms -- Bread and Circuses -- Who Supported Trump in the Presidential Elections? -- A Politics of Hope? -- References -- Chapter 2. The Politics of Hope: Donald Trump as an Entrepreneur of Identity -- Introduction: Making Sense of Those Who Don't Make Sense to Us -- Inside the Trump Machine -- The Entrepreneur of Identity -- Conclusion -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 3. Unexamined Assumptions about Leadership: Why People Follow Trump -- The Role of Voters' Implicit Leadership Theories in Support for Donald Trump -- Predictors of Leadership Emergence -- Implicit Leadership Theories -- Assumptions about Effective Leaders -- Implicit Beliefs among Committed Trump Supporters -- Resonating to the Trumpian Worldview -- Implicit Theories of Trumpian Leadership -- Trump the Businessman and CEO -- Toughness -- Authenticity -- Wealth -- Trump Understands -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 4. Leadership and Followership: Trump-An Adaptive Mismatch? -- The Need for Meaning -- An Epistemic Need -- A Need for Security -- An Innate Evolutionary Code -- Attraction to Leaders: A Psychoevolutionary Perspective -- The Campaign -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 5. Power, Persuasion, and Bad Leadership -- Leadership and Power -- Leadership and Influence Tactics -- Why Good Leaders Turn Bad -- Antidotes to Unfair Leader Use of Power and Influence Tactics -- Social Psychology and the Trump Phenomenon -- References -- Chapter 6. Nationalist Politics: The Role of Predispositions and Emotions -- Donald Trump's Nationalist Politics Introduction : all too human : the allure of Donald Trump / Mari Fitzduff The politics of hope : Donald Trump as an entrepreneur of identity / Stephen Reicher and S. Alexander Haslam Unexamined assumptions about leadership : why people follow Trump / Mark R. Leary Leadership and followership : Trump an adaptive mismatch? / Micha Popper Power, persuasion, and bad leadership / Ronald E. Riggio Nationalist politics : the role of predispositions and emotions / Michael C. Grillo Trump : an anti establishment hero? / Gregg Henriques Intolerant and afraid : authoritarians rise to Trump's call / Matthew C. MacWilliams Death : the Trump card / Florette Cohen, Sharylynn Thompson, Tom Pyszczynski, and Sheldon Solomon Insulter Trump : a bonus for his followers? / Karina V. Korostelina Tweeting morals in the 2016 election / J.P. Prims, Zachary J. Melton, and Matt Motyl Dramatic rationalities : electoral theater in the age of Trump / Mark Chou and Michael L. Ondaatje Mindfulness : a tool for thoughtful politics / Christopher S. Reina Afterword / Mari Fitzduff.