Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the shit show circus where the monkey is the ringleader… okay, I know I shouldn’t take it out on the monkey and I should apologize to monkeys everywhere but, I’m really confused. This is like giving your best friend blocked her ex and after four years she messages you saying “bitch, guess who called me last night?” To which you reply, “bitch, since when do blocked numbers make phone calls?” For those born before 1980, let me explain. When your ex is an asshole who doesn’t want to leave you alone, you block his ass and you NEVER GO BACK. SO WHY THE FUCK IS HE BACK??
For those who have yet to catch on, I’m talking about the United States presidential election where most of us were blindsided by the results, mainly those who thought that the logical thing to do was to not vote for the man with the criminal record. Nonetheless, I think I managed to rationalize it (to some extent) so let’s start from the beginning…
[disclaimer: there will be a drastic change in locution from a spunky friend to a worried mother.]
In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, former President Donald Trump was re-elected, defeating Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. The Republicans also gained control of the Senate, with key victories in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. The House of Representatives remained under Democratic control, though several races were still too close to call. This outcome marked Trump's SECOND TERM IN OFFICE, making him the second politician to win the White House after losing an initial bid for re-election, despite his ongoing legal troubles and criminal record (The New Yorker, 2024).
That’s when out of sheer desperation and dissonance I decided to do what every 1996 child was taught to do, Google it (shush, yes I said child)
So I googled: “How did Trump win?” and I frantically scrolled into a reliable source (what’s reliable really?) and opened an article from The Guardian. It was then that I read a passage by Moustafa Bayoumi who blew my tiny little mind…
This journalist captures the essence of this disheartening reality, emphasizing how Trump's campaign thrived on toxic elements like race-baiting, misogyny, and authoritarian undertones by stating this simple fact "The Republicans ran their campaign as a party of hate..." (The Guardian, 2024). The stark contrast between Trump's hate-driven message and the Democratic approach—labeled as "a party that stood for almost nothing"—illustrates a troubling trend in American politics. Bayoumi argues that the Democrats' failure to engage meaningfully with their progressive audience and address critical global issues, such as the crisis of Palestinians, underscores their shortcomings. As we witness the ramifications of this election, it's clear that the Democrats must evolve beyond mere moderation and embrace a platform of equal justice and human rights. But the dominant question hissing in everyone’s ear: Is hate simply an emotion, or is it an ideology that will shape our political landscape for years to come? Let’s talk about it.
The Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis is a psychological theory that suggests how when people feel frustrated, like when their goals are blocked, they may respond with aggression. This means that instead of just feeling annoyed, they might act out in anger, sometimes even against others who aren't the cause of their frustration. This idea was developed by psychologists John Dollard and his colleagues in the 1930s. They proposed that frustration always leads to some form of aggression, whether it's directed at the source of the frustration or displaced onto someone or something else. So, in simple terms, if you can't get what you want and feel frustrated, you might end up taking that anger out on someone else, leading to aggressive behavior.
I believe this concept might help us understand why many voters turned to Trump in the 2024 election. Much like a die-hard Yankees fan who feels the sting of repeated playoff heartbreaks (ouch), these voters have experienced a sense of frustration over various socio-economic issues. I mean it’s not like we’re NOT all fucking mad ALL (most) OF THE TIME.
Like, Imagine being a Yankees fan (I’m trying to bring some light hearted humor to the situation, bear with me) and watching your team lose the World Series yet again. Your frustration builds as you recall past seasons filled with missed opportunities and bad calls. In a moment of anger, you might shout at the TV, blame the umpires, or even toss your cap across the room. This reaction is not just about one game; it’s about the culmination of years of disappointment.
Now, let’s translate that feeling into the political arena. Many voters have felt sidelined by the establishment, frustrated by the economic slump, social inequality, the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the looming threat of climate change only heightened this sense of urgency, despair, frustration and hate. For these voters, Trump's aggressive spiel and promises to 'Make America Great Again' were nothing short of a cynical exploitation of their frustrations. His campaign became a disturbing vessel for their pent-up anger, channeling their disillusionment into a powerful voting bloc that, rather than seeking genuine solutions, seemed willing to embrace divisive rhetoric and dangerous ideologies. It’s unsettling to see how easily some people allowed their frustrations to be manipulated, trading their dignity for the hollow promises of a candidate who thrived on chaos and resentment.
Just as that Yankees fan's explosive reaction stems from years of unmet expectations (I’m really going for it huh?), voters who supported Trump were expressing a collective outcry against what they saw as systemic failures. The frustration over job losses, rising costs of living, and cultural shifts fueled their desire for a drastic change, no matter how controversial the candidate. They weren't just voting for Trump; they were voting against a status quo that left them feeling hopeless. Meanwhile the Democratic Party, instead of offering a solid, safe platform that addressed the needs and concerns of these voters, seemed more interested in playing it safe, appeasing disaffected Republicans, and avoiding any bold stances that might alienate the centrist base. This failure to inspire and unite meant that many disillusioned voters felt they had no choice but to turn to Trump, even as they recognized the dangers of his rhetoric. I’m just trying to make sense of this shit show.
In this context, the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis illuminates why many Americans chose to support a candidate like Trump -*gag*- despite his polarizing behavior. Just as a sports fan might lash out after a tough loss, these voters directed their anger towards a candidate who promised to shake things up and challenge the political establishment, regardless of the risks involved (actually, regardless the people at risk)….I think?….it’s still absurd ,selfish and kinda juvenile in my opinion.
"Frustration can lead to aggressive behavior as a response to unmet expectations..." (Simply Psychology, n.d.).
Another premise that might explain what the fuck happened is the Social Identity Theory developed by Henri Tajfel and John Turner in 1979. The theory helps us understand how people categorize themselves and others into groups. At its core, this theory proposes that a significant part of our self-esteem comes from the social groups we belong to, whether it's our nationality, religion, or even our favorite sports team.
Imagine you're at a party. You might feel a stronger connection with someone wearing the same Yankees jersey. This instinct to identify with others leads to the creation of "in-groups" (the groups we belong to) and "out-groups" (those we don’t). The theory suggests that we tend to favor our in-group, often leading to a sense of pride and unity while simultaneously feeling disdain or prejudice towards out-groups.
Applied to a political context, Social Identity Theory helps explain how people align themselves with certain parties or movements. For instance, when voters identify strongly with a political party, they are more likely to support that party's candidates, EVEN IN THE FACE OF PROBLEMATIC BEHAVIORS OR POLICIES. This can lead to situations where people ignore negative aspects of their in-group while projecting negativity onto the out-group, like how many voters might overlook Trump's flaws because they feel a deep connection to the Republican Party and its ideals….I’m just spitting out the facts.
Overall, Social Identity Theory sheds light on how group dynamics influence behavior, particularly in politically charged environments, showing us that our identities can shape not just our preferences but our actions in significant ways. If there is something to learn from this, it is that we really need to prioritize and emphasize the concept of introspection, because all of this could have been avoided if voters just took a minute to reflect… but that is a whole different blog post. Here we’re trying not to blame. Instead, I hope I painted a clear picture of what may have happened. I hope that I humanized those loved ones who made questionable choices on election day…it’s a hard pill for some people to swallow and I know we want some people to choke. (jk jk) However, we have to keep moving forward and, regardless of the outcome, we still have a choice of being decent human beings. And frankly, I believe that’ll be what truly dictates how these four years will unfold in terms of social change. Wishful thinking? Maybe. But it’s what we have. So maybe the Yankees might win the world series next year… I’m a Dodgers fan, can’t you tell?
The New Yorker. (2024, November 5). Election 2024: Live presidential results map. https://www.newyorker.com/news/election-2024/live-results-map-president-senate-house-governors-races
Bayoumi, M., Davis, B., Green, L., Mahdawi, A., & Sunkara, B. (2024, November 6). Why did Trump win, and what comes next? Our panel reacts. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/06/trump-win-election-panel
Nickerson, C. (2023, September 28). Frustration-aggression hypothesis. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/frustration-aggression-hypothesis.html
McLeod, S. (2023, October 5). Social identity theory in psychology (Tajfel & Turner, 1979). Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html
NPR. (2024, November 6). How Trump won: Policies that resonated with voters. https://www.npr.org/2024/11/06/g-s1-33007/how-trump-won-policies
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