Honestly, it’s a toss-up. With less than two weeks until the November 5, 2024 U.S. presidential election, nobody in their right mind can accurately predict the outcome. However, one thing is vividly apparent: both Harris and Trump are painting the American landscape with the brush of fear. Allow me to explain.
The distinct polarisation that inhabits the American electorate today is well documented. Furthermore, the emotional intensity that resides within voters who identify with either the Democrat or Republican parties in the U.S. is also acutely apparent. Thus, the cauldron of the American electorate is overflowing with a boil that is rather unique in the history of U.S. presidential elections.
The experience of fear is a fundamental reality in human life. To claim to be without fear is, in a practical sense, deeply irrational. Of course, fear also protects us as human beings as a mechanism to avoid harm, danger, and excessive risk-taking. Yet fear, in all its forms, is not similarly experienced by all human beings. Fear impacts each of us differently, depending upon our respective situational perceptions and reactions to similar circumstances that fear inhabits in our daily lives.
In October of 2024, the American Psychological Association published its annual study entitled “Stress in America – A Nation in Political Turmoil.” The study revealed that seventy two percent of respondents indicated that the 2024 U.S. presidential election made them feel anxious, while more than half thought about the election daily.
Seventy two percent were also worried the election results could lead to violence, while more than half of the respondents believe the results of the 2024 presidential election could be the end of democracy in the U.S. When asked to rate their stress about other issues in the U.S., respondents identified housing costs (65%), mass shootings (63%), disinformation/false news (62%), and social divisiveness within the U.S. (60%) as major sources of stress in their lives.
The narratives in political campaigns are inhabited by emotional messaging designed to inspire confidence, hope, fear, enthusiasm, and anxiety in voters. As this relates to human voting behaviour, neuroscience informs us that most voters make decisions influenced primarily by fear and emotion rather than by rational arguments during election campaigns. In practical terms, this means that voters are more susceptible to messages that stress the negative rather than the positive. In terms of this article; advantage Trump.
According to Trump, the U.S. is in a state of unmitigated decay and decline. He routinely emphasises the “enemies within”—typically identifying those who threaten him; the media, voices who advocate for safeguarding the institutions and foundations of the democratic form of government, immigrants (who are eating your cats, dogs, and pets), non-white people, the rule of law, the economically disadvantaged, the U.S. military, and U.S. domestic economic policy—to mention a few. Division, exclusion, suspicion, mistrust, and conspiracy (all laden with fear) are fundamental to Trump’s worldview and message to the American electorate.
For Harris, the possibility of the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the U.S. is the predominant fear message. For Democrats, this possibility is a real life nightmare scenario. “Fear Trump” is the primary theme of the U.S. electorate that identify as Democrats. However, the Harris messaging is deeply embedded with hope, inclusion, a positive vision for future prosperity, fairness, creating opportunities, and dignity for all. “We are not going back. They’re not taking us back. Our fight for the future is also a fight for freedom,” Harris has stated at every opportunity.
The landscapes of fear for the 2024 U.S. presidential election breakdown as follows:
Trump:
Fear the other.
Fear the future.
Fear now.
Fear fear.
Fear the media.
Fear my critics.
Fear democracy.
Fear crime.
Fear government.
Harris:
Fear Trump.
Fear the past with Trump.
Fear the threats to democracy.
Fear for your freedom.
Fear fascism and authoritarianism.
Fear for the future of the rule of law.
Fear dishonesty and deception in governance.
Who will win after the election on November 5, 2024 in the U.S.? I have no idea. However, I do know one thing; I expect it will take weeks after November 5th 2024 to legally and officially declare the winner. The aftermath will be contentious and messy. Please hope for the United States to overcome this ongoing, bitter battle underway on the landscapes of fear. Whatever the outcome, rest assured that the world will be impacted by the next person to occupy the White House.