To beat Trump, we need to know why Americans keep voting for him. Psychologists may have the answer | George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
US culture is an incubator of ‘extrinsic values’. Nobody embodies them like the Republican front runner, writes Guardian columnist George Monbiot

US culture is an incubator of ‘extrinsic values’. Nobody embodies them like the Republican frontrunner

Many explanations are proposed for the continued rise of Donald Trump, and the steadfastness of his support, even as the outrages and criminal charges pile up. Some of these explanations are powerful. But there is one I have seen mentioned nowhere, which could, I believe, be the most important: Trump is king of the extrinsics.

Some psychologists believe our values tend to cluster around certain poles, described as “intrinsic” and “extrinsic”. People with a strong set of intrinsic values are inclined towards empathy, intimacy and self-acceptance. They tend to be open to challenge and change, interested in universal rights and equality, and protective of other people and the living world.

People at the extrinsic end of the spectrum are more attracted to prestige, status, image, fame, power and wealth. They are strongly motivated by the prospect of individual reward and praise. They are more likely to objectify and exploit other people, to behave rudely and aggressively and to dismiss social and environmental impacts. They have little interest in cooperation or community. People with a strong set of extrinsic values are more likely to suffer from frustration, dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety, anger and compulsive behaviour.

    • agent_flounder@lemmy.worldEnglish
      20·
      10 months ago

      I don’t know about a populist but what we need are a lot more progressive, pro-labor types along the lines of Bernie and AOC.

      We need major FDR style New Deal reform (assuming I understand what that was): economic security, health security, more power to the working class and less power for corporations, among many other things.

      What we need less of is pro-corporate, neolib types (e.g., Pelosi), fascists, crooks, reactionaries, and zealots (e.g. …well, any GOP politician).

    • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
      193·
      10 months ago

      Honestly you don’t even have to go that far. Democrats have spent the last 20+ years dismissing or ignoring problems. All they really need to do is acknowledge they are problems and maybe some lip service about helping them.

      The big thing is just stop offering non-solutions that may be well intentioned, but sound like leave your shit hole town and get some education.

      • GladiusB@lemmy.world
        83·
        10 months ago

        I disagree about the lip service part. Because that just gives them ammo for years from now. But do SOMETHING to help.

        • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
          94·
          10 months ago

          My problem with saying do something is that the something democrats routinely choose ends up being worse than doing nothing.

          • beardown@lemm.ee
            21·
            10 months ago

            What is the evidence of this?

            The New Deal and The Great Society seem to disprove this notion.

            And Biden’s recent Inflation Reduction Act, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and American Rescue Plan Act are the strongest domestic investments in US history since the Great Society, which was 60 years ago at this point. Making Biden’s legislative wins the strongest accomplishments in most Americans lifetimes

            Dems need to do way more, and Biden is still not sufficient. But idk if it’s true that his legislation has made things “worse”

    • JoBo@feddit.uk
      13·
      10 months ago

      All this pseudo-analysis comes across as failing to see what Trump is a symptom of and instead presumes Trump is the root of the ailment.

      This sentence is out of place. In the rest of your post you’re agreeing with the article.>

    • Socsa@sh.itjust.works
      4·
      10 months ago

      I would be careful about descending too deeply into any kind of populism tbh. Politics should be more technocratic than liturgical, without being too much of either.

      • beardown@lemm.ee
        31·
        10 months ago

        The grievances of the people need to be heard, and it is inevitable that the elite class will grow deaf to those needs over time.

        This isn’t because technocrats will act out of malice; rather it means the system that they serve will be bought out by oligarchs who will bend all existing structures to serve their own goals rather than the goals of the people.

        A strong judicial system can help to prevent that. Unfortunately judiciaries can also be bought, as the United States has recently seen

    • joel_feila@lemmy.world
      41·
      10 months ago

      Why people fall for demagogues is part of oroblem. Understanding why they listen to them will help us make that firebrand we need.

    • psycho_driver@lemmy.world
      21·
      10 months ago

      only because billionaire Taylor Swift has been wronged by it

      Wait what? I’m not sure I believe this. Do you have proof?