It has been fascinating, a bit startling, but not truly shocking to witness the rise of Donald J. Trump as a contender for the presidency. He has managed to garner the support of millions of Americans despite an onslaught of evidence which reveals the superficial, inconsistent and at times entirely fabricated dimensions of his stump speeches and related conduct.
The question that comes to mind for many is what is the allure of Mr. Trump and moreover how is it possible that his supporters seem unwilling to carefully assess the credibility of his declarations, prevarications and deflections.
At this time it is well-known that people are angry with public officials, mistrust politicians and have come to view the government as broken. As such, Trump's bravado, self-promotion, sarcasm and irreverence strikes some as amusing if not endearing. He speaks to a level of frustration, even despair, that some people are experiencing in this country. He regales his followers with promises that lift their spirits and provide hope for the future.
In essence, Trump makes some people feel good about themselves and in turn optimistic about the future of this country. This is a powerful elixir that stirs the emotions and leaves his supporters feeling high.
We live in the digital age, however, where public statements and behavior can be documented and reviewed when people make one claim or another about themselves or deny having mistepped or lied. Despite the fact that Trump is on record making statements that are hateful, hurtful, devoid of serious thought, self-aggrandizing and preposterous, there are many who continue to drink the Kool-Aid.
In psychology, there is a construct called Cognitive Dissonance. Basically the idea goes that once people make up their minds about something, they become emotionally wedded to a person, idea or plan of action. Despite being confronted with evidence that contradicts a given thought or commitment, people tend to ignore the data at hand rather than modify or change their position.
The thing is that when it comes to making big choices that could prove to be life-altering, it is extremely important that adults take a deep breath, ignore a momentary high or fascination and take a deeper look at what they are buying. Everyone has known the temptation, if not the experience, of acting from pure desire or emotion. The shiny bright object always grabs our attention and can be extremely seductive and appealing. It can prove to be a distraction from the anxiety produced from stress or conflict — the push and pull of everyday life.
Sometimes it feels good to give into or gratify an impulse. Why not order that dessert or buy that pricey new outfit or toy? However, as my father used to say, there are no free lunches in America. There is a cost associated with the decisions we make, particularly if they are made impulsively, devoid of serious thought and consideration.
The election of a President is a serious matter that can impact the fate of all Americans. Such a choice reverberates throughout the world. Grown-ups possess the ability to put aside feel-good impulses in order to think things through in a careful and considered fashion.
Impulse is easy and may lead to immediate gratification. Critical thinking is hard and may require putting aside a temporary high or the illusion of security in order to do what is right for one's self and others.
Hopefully, while we are about 100 days away from the presidential election, citizens of this nation who have become intoxicated by the Trump experience have time to recalibrate their thinking and make the kind of decisions that reflect real thought, a weighing of the facts at hand, and do not wake up the morning after the election with a terminal case of buyer's remorse.
Dr. N.G. Berrill is the executive director at the New York Center for Neuropsychology & Forensic Behavioral Science
