The Psychology Behind Talking Politics.

[Davey Do]

Noting patterns in behavior is one way in which we can predict future behaviors. To be able to predict future behaviors allows us to plan our reaction thereby giving us a sense of security.

I've noticed some behavioral patterns here on this website, and one of the most recent ones is congregation. Where once the most heavily trafficked forum was General Nursing, one of the most heavily trafficked areas is now Politics.

I get this data through empirical endeavors. For example, a recent thread in General Nursing where I had submitted a post sat at the most recent post position for 5 1/2 hours. Politics rarely sit without a new post being submitted for more than an hour. As example, this morning, Politics had been posted on less than 30 minutes earlier.

Why the shift in interest from Nursing to Politics on a nursing website?

[toomuchbaloney]

Political messaging and agendas have evolved. Politics are directly responsible for the distrust of Dr Fauci and the refusal by many to attempt mitigation of a pandemic.  Politics determine how accessible and affordable health care will be in this country.  

Currently, Politics will determine if we even live in a democratic republic. 

[heron, ASN, RN]

For me, it’s personal preference.

I look at the “what’s new” on the nursing side (the “yellow side” to us old fahts) at least once a day. Even after filtering for nurses only, the threads seem to be concentrated more on career strategies than actual nursing questions. I’m 72 years old and just retired. I don’t care about internship programs, getting into NP school or how much a user hates her/his job.

I used to browse the specialty threads, but lately the discussions and dynamics in the political threads have been more interesting.

Why AN for politics? Because I like the way nurses think.

[Davey Do]

Basically, knowledge is power. If we learn something is amiss, we can deal with it. Identifying the problem is the first step of the problem-solving process.

However, the majority of knowledge in Talking Politics is not empirically learned. It is, in fact, hearsay. It's mostly a matter of he said/she said.

The vast majority of us are spectators who allow ourselves to take potshots from the sidelines. It becomes an Us and Them thing. We are good. They are bad. We can point out their badness, hence, we are good.

If others agree with our perspective, then we are reinforced. Reinforcement prevents cognitive dissonance, and cognitive dissonance results in us feeling one of the two basic emotions of fear.

Love and fear are the basic emotion from which all emotions are inspired. We react out of those two basic emotions.

Are we Talking Politics out of love or out of fear?

[heron, ASN, RN]

Davey … my life experience isn’t hearsay.

[toomuchbaloney]

19 minutes ago, Davey Do said:

Basically, knowledge is power. If we learn something is amiss, we can deal with it. Identifying the problem is the first step of the problem-solving process.

However, the majority of knowledge in Talking Politics is not empirically learned. It is, in fact, hearsay. It's mostly a matter of he said/she said.

The vast majority of us are spectators who allow ourselves to take potshots from the sidelines. It becomes an Us and Them thing. We are good. They are bad. We can point out their badness, hence, we are good.

If others agree with our perspective, then we are reinforced. Reinforcement prevents cognitive dissonance, and cognitive dissonance results in us feeling one of the two basic emotions of fear.

Love and fear are the basic emotion from which all emotions are inspired. We react out of those two basic emotions.

Are we Talking Politics out of love or out of fear?

I disagree.  

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

Using Davey's premise that interest in politics is based on either love or fear, I would say that my interest is based in love. I want my fellow citizens to have opportunity to thrive, to achieve and maintain good health, and to live in safety. I do push back when I feel that political policies threaten the safety, health and prosperity of others. 

For example, our country's ability to push back on climate change depends on politicians. Another example is how our healthcare system is a mishmash of large corporations, and huge government bureaucracy that gives us substandard care. 

[heron, ASN, RN]

Speaking of taking pot shots, the political threads tend to attract users who enjoy a good snarkfest but add little to the substance of a discussion. I wonder if any of them will post on this thread

[heron, ASN, RN]

26 minutes ago, toomuchbaloney said:

I disagree.  

Me, too. I think “love or fear” is a false dichotomy. Both can exist in the same heart at the same time and will inform our political views whether we like it or not.

[Davey Do]

Love or fear can exist and be experienced at the same time.

For example, we can love someone and fear for their safety at the time, so perhaps a more appropriate statement would be worded "All emotions stem from the two basic emotions of love and/or fear".

[toomuchbaloney]

We can respond to political events and agendas or we can react to them. 

[heron, ASN, RN]

Speaking of nurses and politics … happy Labor Day!