As a culture, we should also work to teach our children and encourage our citizens to vote with their “heads” rather than their “hearts.” And it may also be helpful to raise awareness of how concerns about mortality affect human behavior. I hope that such measures will encourage people to make rational choices based on the political qualifications and positions of the candidates rather than on defensive needs to preserve psychological equanimity in response to reminders of death.
Are you a scientist? Have you recently read a peer-reviewed paper that you want to write about? Then contact Mind Matters editor Jonah Lehrer, the science writer behind the blog The Frontal Cortex and the book Proust Was a Neuroscientist.
See what we're tweeting about
1 Comments
Add CommentThe same strategy was used in the 2004 Madrid train bombings, 3 days previous to the presidential election, but the result was the opposite. The people become infuriated for the current government involvement in the Irak illegal invasion and the opposition party win the presidency. It's just curious the fact that spaniards reacted in such different fashion, and contrary to the US people reaction, the Spain people claimed: No more war.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this