The Political Brain PDF
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THE BRAIN POLITICAL THE ROLE OF EMOTION IN DECIDING THE FATE OF THE NATION v DREW WESTEN "This is the most interesting, informative book on po—litics I've read in many—years.... [Westen's] suggestions forwhat candidates should say and should have said should be read and studied by anyone who wants to understand modern American politics." —President Bill Clinton J( >c_ Praise for ThePoliticalBrain • * • "This is the most interesting, informative book on politics I've read in many years. [Westen's] suggestions for what candidates should — . . . — say and should have said should be read and studied by anyone who wants to understand modern American politics. This book is a handbook for how to talk about what really matters to you, written in — just the way Westen says we should talk to voters with vivid lan- guage,evocative imagery,and a senseofhumor. It'salsoagood primer on why attacks can'tgo unanswered and how best to respond to them. Ifyou want to know why candidates win or lose elections and what — voters look for in a leader whether you're an interested voter or a — candidate for public office you have to—read thisbook." President BillClinton "Thisbookcouldeasily be titled TheNextStep. Democratshavecaught up with Republicans in being able to target voters and we're making rapid strides in rebuilding our party so we can talk to voters in fifty states. This book outlines a more intractable problem: How toactually talk to voters once we organize. Drew Westen is a must read and must hear for any Democrat who wants to win in Mississippi, Colorado, or rural Ohio. In 2006 we did win in those areas. In 2008 we will win the presidency ifourcand—idate readsand acts on this book." Howard Dean,chairman, Democratic Party "The PoliticalBrain is the most illuminating book on contemporary American politics I've ever read. By explaining how voters actually process information, Drew Westen lays bare the connection between politicaltechnique, political conviction, and the Democrats' habit of bungling winnable elections. Ifevery leading Democratic politician reads this book, w—e could have a decent America back." Robert Kuttner,cofounderand editor-in-chief, TheAmerican Prospect "In recent years, a small number ofexperts on language and rhetoric have been touted as the Democrats' savior. None of these panned out. Many peoplearethereforeskittishaboutanyonebeingheralded . . . as the next source ofadvice. But Westen's analyses and suggestions speakpreciselytoDemocrats'greatesttacticalfailuresofthelastquarter- century, and they do so without descending to the level of 'Mission Accomplished' banners and the 'death tax.' It will be fascinating to see how The Political Brain is received among the Democratic political professionals, who are for the most part insular and arrogant and have an explanation for everything. But Westen's explanations sound better than theones th—athavelongbeencirculatinginWashington." MichaelTomasky, TheNew Yor\ReviewofBoo\s "Why domostAmericansagree with Democratsand vote for Republi- cans? Because Republicans know more about the human brain than their opponents do. In a delightful and insightful book, Westen uses the latest research in psychology and cognitive neuroscience to show how Republicans win by appealing to the heart while Democrats lose by appealing to the mind. This fascinating book will appeal to hearts and minds on both sides ofthe aisle. The PoliticalBrain is scary and scary smart, serious and seriously funny. Machiavelli, move over, there's—a new kid in town." DanielGilbert, Harvard College Professor ofPsychology, Harvard University,and author ofStumblingon Happiness "In the last several months, [Westen] has gone from a politically inclined nobody to a hot ticket, presenting his ideas to presidential campaigns, political strategists, pollsters, consultants, and donors. In his work, they hope to find a grand unified theo—ry ofHow Democrats Can Stop Blowing It." LosAngeles Times "ThePoliticalBrain has catapulted the Emory University professor . . . from the ivory tower to the political epicenter. And Democrats throughout the capital are listening to his prescriptio—ns and adapting them for practical use." USA Today "[By a] psychologist with impressive research and clinical creden- tials. . . . No other book has so comprehensively linked psychological science with election-day choices. He offers psychologically ap- . . . pealingand principled approaches that Democrats can take regarding — divisive issues such as Iraq, abortion,gays,gun control, race relations, terrorism, and taxes. . . . Recommended for ac—ademic and public libraries. Libraryjournal "A savvy, scary, partisan, provocative, take-no-prisoners-political primer, with cautionary tales drawn from the emotionally-challenged Michael Dukakis, Al Gore, and John Kerry campaigns,each ofwhich snatched defeat from the jaws ofvictory His analysis ofhow and why political rhetoric stimulates voters' 'networks ofassociation, bun- dles ofthoughts, feelings, images, and ideas' will be instructive, ifalso infuriating,topolitical junkies,nomatterwhatth—eirpartisanaffiliation." TheBaltimoreSun "Exceptionally clear. Democrats finally have a prophet who can . . . lead them to the promised land ofwinning national elections, and his prescription is simple: Fightback, dadgummit." — SacramentoBee "Arecentbookby DrewWesten,nowbeingavidly read inWestminster, argues persuasively that voters, even the mostanalytical ofthem, think about politics with the touchy-feely partof—their brains, rather than the rational." TheSunday Times (UK) "Someone had to say it. . . . And Drew Westen, a clinical psychologist and political strategist from Emory University, has stepped up to the plate in ThePoliticalBrain togiveascathing,soberingdiagnosisofwhat ailsa political party whosebeliefsareinlinewiththemajorityofAmer- icans on almostevery issue and yet fails to translate thatalignment into sustainable electoral success. Armed with numerous studieson howthe brainoperatesinthatcrucial interplaybetweenemotionand reasonthat energizes voters, Westen has succeeded in penninga m—anifesto on be- halfofbringing the passionate bac—k into the narrative and actions ofthe Democratic Party." Susan Gardner, Dailykos.com "Westen's book joins the ever-growing list ofpostmortems over why the Democrats lost their past two White House bids. But the author is no casual armchair pundit. He comes to the fray armed as a profes- sor ofpsychology and psychiatry at Emory University who has used magnetic resonance imaging to und—erstand how voters respond to partisan politics." Linda Kramer,Politico.com The Political Brain THE ROLE OF EMOTION IN DECIDING THE FATE OF THE NATION DREW WESTEN PublicAffairs NewYor^ — TO Laura, Mackenzie, and Sarah Copyright©2007byDrewWesten Postscripttothepaperbackcopyright©2008byDrewWesten. PublishedintheUnitedStatesbyPublicAffairs™,amemberofthePerseusBooksGroup. Allrightsreserved. PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica. No part ofthis book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permissionexceptinthecaseofbriefquotationsembodiedincriticalarticlesandreviews.For information,addressPublicAffairs,250West57thStreet,Suite 1321,NewYork,NY10107. PublicAffairsbooksareavailableatspecialdiscountsforbulkpurchasesintheUnitedStates bycorporations,institutions,andotherorganizations.Formoreinformation,pleasecontact theSpecialMarketsDepartmentatthePerseusBooksGroup,2300ChestnutStreet,Suite200, Philadelphia,PA 19103,orcall(800)255-1514,[email protected]. LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData Westen,Drew,1959- Thepoliticalbrain:theroleofemotionindecidingthefateofthenation/DrewWesten. p.cm. ISBN-13:978-1-58648-425-5 ISBN-10: 1-58648-425-7 — — — 1.Presidents—UnitedStates Election Psycho—logicalaspects.—2.Politicalcampaigns United States P—sychological asp—ects. 3. Voting United States Psychological—aspects. 4.Politicalparties UnitedSt—ates Platforms. 5.Politic—alpsychology. 6.Emotion—s Polit- icalaspects. 7.UnitedStates Politicsandgovernment 1989- 8.UnitedStates Politics andgovernment—1945-1989. I.Title. JK528.W472007 324.973001'9—dc22 2007011503 987654321 10 PBISBN978-1-58648-573-3 1 CONTENTS Introduction ix Part One MIND, BRAIN, AND EMOTION IN POLITICS 1 WinningStates ofMind 3 2 Rational Minds, Irrational Campaigns 25 3 The Evolution ofthe Passionate Brain 45 4 The Emotions Behind the Curtain 69 5 Special Interests in Mind 89 6 Trickle-up Politics 117 Part Two A BLUEPRINT FOR EMOTIONALLY COMPELLING CAMPAIGNS 7 Writingan Emotional Constitution 145 8 Aborting Ambivalence 171 9 GunningforCommon Ground 193 10 Racial Consciousnessand Unconsciousness 219 Death and Taxes 249 1 12 Hope, Inspiration, and Political Intelligence 283 13 PositivelyNegative 317 14 Terror Networks 349 15 Civil and Uncivil Unions 377 Postscripttothe Paperback Edition 421 Acknowledgments 439 Notes 441 Index 445
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