Behavioural Campaigning Patterns of Right-Wing Political Strategy: US Election

I haven't written much about the current US election or the recent UK election. One of the reasons is that I work full-time and have other creative interests that I can't fully commit to discussing these subjects in depth.

With the constant bombardment of information, misinformation, and propaganda, it's difficult to know where to start and what to focus on. However, I do plan on writing about the current state of the UK government at some point, as there are still issues that need addressing.

Shifting our attention to the US election, it would be tempting to analyse the behavioural communication and psychology of a certain individual. Yet, it feels somewhat nauseating to do so, especially when there are already more qualified professionals who have studied this extensively. The fact that they receive pushback for speaking out against a sitting president is concerning, but their duty to raise red flags should not be ignored. After all, had individuals done so during Hitler's time, we may have been able to prevent World War II. What interests me more is examining the style and tactics used in this campaign to manipulate and sway voters.

By breaking down different elements such as behavioural communication techniques, intentions, and cultural influences, we can better understand how language and messaging can influence perception. It's also worth noting the influence of wealthy individuals using their propaganda machines to distort reality and discourage people from voting come election day. When we delve into the symbolic and imaginary aspects of political campaigning, what does it reveal about our society? These are just some questions that interest me as we navigate through another tumultuous election season.

Instead of a technical critique, this will be my personal analysis/opinion piece using pattern recognition to point out what I observe. Analysing the Trump Campaign Through Multiple Theoretical Lenses to identify patterns.

Campaign Goal: To win a second term as President of the United States.

Target Audience: Mainly blue-collar voters, with a focus on rural areas and Rust Belt states. Also appealing to fringe voters and states. Targeted through behavioural and psychological profiling.

Campaign Theme: "Make America Great Again" evokes nostalgia for an idealized time when primarily white, middle-class individuals had more opportunities and prosperity.

Main Techniques of Persuasion/Manipulation:

Language of Hypnosis: Uses language and rhetoric to sway the audience's thoughts and emotions, often drawing on symbols of American power and pride, such as the flag and military.

Symbolic Manipulation: Utilizes false symbolism to create an idealized vision of America, despite the reality that it goes against many values in the Constitution. This manipulation becomes almost transparent when faced with the truth.

Imagined Reality: Constructs a distorted version of reality by promoting a candidate who lacks moral integrity and respect for the law, while creating an illusion of strength and order.

Realistic Appeals: Plays on underlying fears and desires, particularly economic insecurity and cultural change, by deflecting attention from issues of wealth inequality, access to healthcare, and discrimination based on gender or sexuality.

Metaphorical Messaging: Simplifies complex issues through metaphors that evoke emotional responses. This can be seen in discussions surrounding immigration, LGBTQ+ rights, and women's equality, often using "Christian values" as a guise for these inequalities.

Repetition Reinforcement: Emphasizes key messages and slogans repeatedly to solidify their impact. Often accompanied by visual or audio elements to further reinforce their messaging.

Suggestive Implications: Propagates the idea that only one leader (Trump) can solve the country's problems, despite evidence to the contrary during his time in office. Deflects attention from his own failures by attacking opponents' shortcomings through a narrative of negging, ultimately suggesting that he is the superior candidate.

Behavioural Psychology:

Anchoring: The technique of linking positive emotions, such as patriotism and hope, to Trump's image and policies. This is reinforced through repetition, language, and attacks on "the enemy" or "the other."

Framing: Issues are presented in a way that benefits Trump, often using emotionally charged language. These narratives are designed to ignite chemical reactions that can be turned into actions when triggered.

Visualization: Supporters are encouraged to imagine a future where America is "great again," using distorted symbols and false imaginings. This creates a strong emotional connection that can be mobilized into action.

Social Proof: Trump's campaign leverages the support of high-profile individuals and celebrities to legitimize his candidacy. This includes a focus on certain cultural icons who appeal to young to middle-aged men and promote falsehoods disguised as alternative facts. Examples include Joe Rogan and others.

Loss Aversion: Emphasizes potential negative consequences of electing a different candidate, such as the loss of gun rights, Christian values, control over the border, jobs, and even loved ones at the hands of minorities. This divisive language aims to incite not only voting but also physical attacks against those trying to uphold the constitution.

Elements of the Campaign:

Rallies: Large gatherings that aim to energize supporters and reinforce the campaign's message. Despite showcasing a candidate who may be losing touch with reality, these rallies have a similar tone to those held by past dictators, igniting a delusional cult-like fervour among followers that spills over into social and news media.

Social Media: Utilizes various social media platforms to spread misinformation and launch attacks against opponents. Musk's purchase of Twitter is now clearly understood as a means of promoting right-wing propaganda, conspiracy theories, and emotional, biased narratives intended to discredit any result that does not align with their own agenda. This platform also serves as a catalyst for inciting violence in the name of activism.

Television and Podcast Appearances: The candidate frequently appears on conservative news networks to control the narrative. Leveraging Musk's connections to the podcast industry, lengthy appearances are used to perpetuate false narratives, promoting division over unity and scapegoating minority groups instead of addressing real issues and their root causes.

Populism and Nationalism: Appeals to working-class individuals and stirs up nationalist sentiments. By evoking a false sense of nostalgia and an idealized vision of America's past greatness tied to a white middle-class identity, this campaign fuels a sense of pride based on separating oneself from the rest of the world.

In conclusion

The Trump campaign has effectively utilized a combination of elements, such as prioritizing American interests, tough on crime policies, protectionist trade measures, and appeals to traditional values and religious beliefs, to mobilize a significant portion of the electorate and maintain a loyal base of support. This has created almost cult-like fervour among his followers, who seem to disregard any inconsistencies or contradictions in his actions and statements. However, the use of these techniques has raised concerns about manipulation and erosion of democratic norms, especially with the involvement of social media, data science, and behavioural psychology. With foreign interference, companies like Cambridge Analytica, and powerful propaganda machines backing him, there is cause for concern about the distortion of reality that will be used to legitimize aggressive and undemocratic actions.

Regardless of the outcome on November 5th, this distortion will continue to be weaponised and undermine our democratic order. As an opinion piece based on pattern recognition, this is not a technical critique but an observation of alarming trends within the Trump campaign.