Aging female Trumper
In the past, some prominent psychologists have explained President Donald Trump’s unwavering support by alluding to a well-established psychological phenomenon known as the “Dunning-Kruger effect.” The effect is a type of cognitive bias, where people with little expertise or ability assume they have superior expertise or ability. This overestimation occurs as a result of the fact that they don’t have enough knowledge to know they don’t have enough knowledge. Or, stated more harshly, they are “too dumb to know they are dumb.” This simple but loopy concept has been demonstrated dozens of times in well-controlled psychology studies and in a variety of contexts. However, until now, the effect had not been studied in one of the most obvious and important realms—political knowledge.
A new study published in the journal Political Psychology, carried out by the political scientist Ian Anson at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, not only found that the Dunning-Kruger effect applies to politics, […]
In a nut shell it comes down to: people who wonder about where their own blind spots are and people who don’t.
It is telling that a left-wing publication only uses arm-chair psychology (this is not neuroscience, even if reported by a neuroscientist) to skewer the side they disagree with, when in fact all political persuasions are vulnerable to the same consequence of human psychology (a point the referenced journal article makes). “Yes, by all means–let’s point our fingers at the other side, while ignoring the same phenomenon among our own fellow travelers.” And in the process ramp up polarization yet another notch.
Yes, Paul the voice of reason. If you read more deeply into this research you will find this is a human pattern not left or right politics. History shows that this has played out in all political systems. We humans are too often clever by half…
Since I can’t get my wrapped around the fact that we are where we are and it is a very scary time, having a bit of psychology helps. It also tells me that as humans we really haven’t come all that far….
Teresa, I get what you say. This, these times, are the most baffling and frightening of my experience.
The preceding SR article, JUDGEMENT DAYS, https://www.schwartzreport.net/judgment-days/?utm_source=Stephan+Schwartz%27s+Email+List&utm_campaign=1c51027db8-SR_Daily_Digest_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0eb25d4404-1c51027db8-242485009 ,
adds another critical insight into what we are facing regarding Trump’s hold on power.
While lengthy, it examines his bedrock Pentecostal supporters and how their allegiance is cemented in their unswerving desire to see Roe vs Wade removed. This also is important to be seen & understold, if we hope to deal with it.
I feel there is a need to steady our vision & to face all the core aspects of the Trump phenomena – and try not be unduly distracted by our emotions &reactions to it – if we are to find a way to any ‘effective’ actions that can remove him from power.
Another factor, the vast monies of the uber-wealthy who wish to keep him in power for their own ends, remains perhaps the hardest to imagine how it can be challenged.
But, we can re-encourage each other. Our challenge now – via both having an understanding & a commitment to keep trying – is to move steadily towards an end to this government.
It is daunting.