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Tendency to Fear is Strong Political Influence

By Guest PostFebruary 10, 2013Politicsanti immigration, baseline fear, brown political scientist, common focus area, congress, emotional factors, Environment, factors, forces, genetic liability, immigration, immigration and war, kenneth s kendler, level, lindon j eaves, michael c neale, out group opinions, penn state university, peter k hatemi, political attitudes, political campaigns, political influence, political preferences, pro segregation policies, provocation, rational arguments, rose mcdermott, segregation, social phobia, tendency to fear, threat, trait based fear, virginia commonwealth university

Fear can play a role in influencing political attitudes on hot-button issues like immigration, according to new research co-authored by Brown political scientist Rose McDermott. The study, published in the American Journal of Political Science, shows that individuals who are genetically predisposed to fear tend to have more negative out-group opinions, which play out politically as support for policies like anti-immigration and segregation.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — It’s no secret that fear is a mechanism often used in political campaigns to steer public opinion on hot-button issues like immigration and war. But not everyone is equally predisposed to be influenced by such a strategy, according to new research by Rose McDermott, professor of political science, and colleagues published in the American Journal of Political Science. (more…)

“Self-Distancing” Can Help People Calm Aggressive Reactions, Study Finds

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study reveals a simple strategy that people can use to minimize how angry and aggressive they get when they are provoked by others.

When someone makes you angry, try to pretend you’re viewing the scene at a distance – in other words, you are an observer rather than a participant in this stressful situation. Then, from that distanced perspective, try to understand your feelings.

Researchers call this strategy “self-distancing.” (more…)

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Tendency to Fear is Strong Political Influence

“Self-Distancing” Can Help People Calm Aggressive Reactions, Study Finds