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THREAD: Affective neuroscience is so interesting, in relation to politics. Sustained anxiety [Project Fear] generates cortisol—which, if prolonged, affects immune system, damages organs, and also (crucially) shrivels the hippocampus, degrading our memory function. So... 1/
...Projects Fear/Rage literally degrade our responses, disrupt our mental capacity to compare and contrast. But social joy/laughter/play actually sprouts new neurons in the hippocampus, repairing us. The supreme importance of a happy, convivial face to a Yes campaign? But... 2/
...I wonder whether the charisma of Boris/Trump is that they toy around with these brain structures—a jab of folk devil fear, followed by a tickle of taboo-busting humour. Inciting fear, resolving with joy Literally, carney barkers, saying anything to get you in the tent... /3
Murky arts. Care & Curiosity/Seeking (Hope?) are also visceral, evolved emotional systems, & could b better enlisted by progressives. Sturgeon is never going to be a Rage/Anger stoker. But fully unleashing her Care/Hope/Joy responses might give her some charismatic advantages. /4
NS’s daily COVID performance may well have been successful at triggering exactly this set of visceral emotions (maybe taking a lead from Jacinda Ardern, and “Muti” in Germany). It would seem to have reaped benefits in terms of polling. Yes, all of this could be neurobollox... /5
...And yes, there are contending schools on emotions/brain (eg Lisa Feldman Barrett says these emotions are not so primary and subverting, they’re consciously & socially constructed. Investigating.) But indy politics needs emotional literacy. This is the game we’re now in. /Ends
