Politics and Religion are the two subjects that stir up passionate hatred more than any other subject. And it’s true that most people, if you disagree with them on politics or religion, will get very ugly about it.
There is actual science behind this. When it comes to politics, you'd think people were thinking logically right? Wrong. Testing has shown repeatedly that when discussing politics or political ideology in general, the "logical" side of the brain shuts down and the parts that control emotions light up like a Christmas tree.
I'll put it another way: to most people, politics *IS* religion. On any given issue, people listen for a moment to the initial views, and then make a choice in line with their personal philosophy. To question that philosophy, or even the issue, is to question the person. People tie their Id and their sense of self to the same issues; once someone chooses a candidate to root for, they begin to identify with that person on the basis of political belief.
That's why it brings out the worst: you are, in essence, challenging a person's most core beliefs.
5 Comments
Because those are the two subjects that have the widest variety of opinion. Everybody is right and wrong at the same time depending on your point of view.
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Many people define themselves by their ideological views and an attack on their beliefs is like an attack on them. The art of civil discourse is learned, but this format is too confining.
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There is actual science behind this. When it comes to politics, you'd think people were thinking logically right? Wrong. Testing has shown repeatedly that when discussing politics or political ideology in general, the "logical" side of the brain shuts down and the parts that control emotions light up like a Christmas tree.
I'll put it another way: to most people, politics *IS* religion. On any given issue, people listen for a moment to the initial views, and then make a choice in line with their personal philosophy. To question that philosophy, or even the issue, is to question the person. People tie their Id and their sense of self to the same issues; once someone chooses a candidate to root for, they begin to identify with that person on the basis of political belief.
That's why it brings out the worst: you are, in essence, challenging a person's most core beliefs.
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I believe people get ugly about politics mostly out of frustration because they keep hoping the idealistic candidate will come along and “fix” all of their problems and give them the wonderful life they so desire.
A major source of the problem is that we have somehow morphed the “American Dream” into the belief that everyone has some type of absolute “RIGHT” to everything. The American Dream used to be that anyone can be anything they want… Go out there, study hard or work hard and bust tail and you can accomplish just about anything. That philosophy seems to have died. Now it seems there is so much envy and even disdain for the success of others that we are making it a bad thing to become successful and make a lot of money etc. and have the mindset that those people should “pay to help” everyone else.
No one seems to believe life’s rewards have to be earned so much as given. With that comes the frustration with wanting to believe they are entitled to the very things they have to earn through blood, sweat and tears along with the fact that life doesn’t work that way.
Much of our recent financial melt down was derived from that very attitude. Politicians decided that we Americans had a “right” to own a home whether we had earned it or not. The lending rules were relaxed and mandates were given etc. and here we are.
Another problem is most people don’t understand the basics when it comes to economics and the political process and rely on the sound bites they get from commercials and the coverage they receive from the media. I continually hear individuals placing blame for things in places where that blame doesn’t realistically exist in the real world. (Such as blaming President Carter for things that were set in motion during the Nixon presidency or blaming Clinton for things set in motion during the first Bush presidency or blaming Bush 2 for things set in motion in the Clinton presidentcy etc.)
I also see two main philosophies in the U.S.- those that want the government to take care of them and those that want the government to leave them alone. This in and of itself can create a LOT of anger.
From what I’ve seen, most people simply want things the way THEY want them and don’t have a lot of regard for other’s feelings and opinions, especially when they are contrary to their own.
Having studied psychology quite a bit over the years to help me in my business dealings I’ve found that many people also tend to feel insulted when you disagree with them and become defensive and aggressive.
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Because people get frustrated when others do not share the same point of view.
However if we all thought alike, this would be one boring world.
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