Amna Nawaz
@PBSNewsHour·5.3M subscribers·62.2K videos
WATCH: Why fear and anger are so effective in politics
Posted
October 29, 2024
Views
6,644
Likes
136
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October 29, 2024
6,644
136
2.05%
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8:15Now PlayingCorrection: A graphic in this piece misspells UC Berkeley. We regret the error.
They are hallmarks of modern American presidential races: a campaign rally claim about what life would look like should your opponent win, or a television ad that seems like a trailer for a horror film.
For example, former President Donald Trump telling voters that an administration under Kamala Harris would, "destroy your country." Or, a Harris television ad stating that in office, Trump will seek "vengeance."
This charged language is used for a reason: it's effective.
But, why?
And, why isn't hope a central theme for campaigns as weeks turn to days before the 2024 presidential election?
PBS News' Tim McPhillips spoke to two experts to learn why fear is an effective motivator and why fear-based political messaging is so often deployed along racial lines as America's demographics shift.
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