Harvard professor Arthur Brooks has warned that politics is driving Americans into depression and robbing them of happiness, but it ultimately boils down to the psychological concept that “bullies” have taken over the political system. It originates from
Brooks, co-author of “Build the Life You Want,” said on “The Brian Kilmeade Show” that some people in society are part of the “dark triad” of narcissists, psychopaths and Machiavellians. explained in detail.
Typically, the 7% of the population who fall into one of these three categories are not rewarded or even avoided for their behavior, but in some situations these “bullies” “take over the political system.” There is a possibility.
“Politics is a slow-growing crisis for America’s well-being,” Brooks told Brian Kilmeade.
“Politics drives us crazy, makes us anxious, and actually makes us depressed. Part of the reason is that it tells people that if someone disagrees with their opinion, they have to cut it off. Because of political parties and the media. 1 in 6 Americans doesn’t.” It’s insane to talk to your family because of politics today.
“Family is one of the core parts of the equation of happiness. If you start separating your family, you won’t be happy,” he continued.
“The only reason for family rifts is abuse, and political differences are not abuse. This appeals to an old structure in the human brain that says this is an in-group, this is an out-group. The people, their people. It’s a tribe.”
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Brooks argued that communities, families and businesses are built on either love or fear, a fact that politicians can exploit to sow rifts within families. This ultimately makes people miserable, he argued, because family is an important pillar of happiness.
“Fear and love are opposites, and it’s also a Biblical principle that perfect love casts out fear,” Brooks said. “This goes back to ancient philosophy, but social psychologists know this is still true today. There are different parts of the brain.”
“Fear and love turn each other off in the human brain, so when politicians use fear-based language to try to separate us, what they’re doing is… It’s about suffocating the love that we have for our friends and family, and that’s why we’re so lonely and depressed in America today,” he continued.
President Biden came under fire this week for what many called a highly partisan State of the Union address that resembled a campaign address. Biden referred to his “predecessor” 13 times, accusing former President Trump of taking “dangerous” positions on Russia and Ukraine and threatening American democracy.
“This was the most partisan thing. union status I’ve heard it all my life,” said Bill McGahn, then-President George W. Bush’s chief speechwriter.
“There was no lobbying for Republicans. The message was clear: Big government is back with a vengeance,” added McGahn, a Wall Street Journal editorial board member, columnist and Fox News contributor.
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Mark Thiessen, who also served as Bush’s speechwriter, called Biden’s speech “an utter disgrace.”
“Directly attacking an opponent in the first few minutes of a speech is unprecedented and perhaps the most partisan opening to a State of the Union address in modern memory,” Thiessen said in a social media post.
President Joe Biden delivers his annual State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol on March 7, 2024. (Shaun Shue Pool/Getty Images)
Brooks argued that when politicians use divisive rhetoric that tears apart communities and families, they end up “dehumanizing” voters.
“When politicians use hateful language, they say they hate America. They are trying to destroy your family. They make you hateful, and you do the same. You’re going to have a reaction. It’s going to hijack your brain,” Brooks said.
“This is exactly what they are doing to us. They are dehumanizing us.”
Brooks added that many Americans are now consuming too much divisive political rhetoric through their frequent use of smartphones and social media platforms.
While Biden spoke, Trump responded one after the other on Truth Social.
“He seems very angry when he speaks, which is the characteristic of someone who knows he’s losing,” Trump wrote. “Anger and shouting will not help bring our country back together!”
Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser and Andrew Murray contributed to this report.
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