The Neuroscience Behind Americans Tuning Out Politics

One patient expressed her disconnection from current events, stating, “I am definitely not following the news anymore,” when I inquired about her engagement with political news as we approached the pivotal 2024 U.S. presidential election. This conversation took place during my appearance on a local television channel, where we discussed the noticeable decline in political yard signs this election season compared to previous years.

As a psychiatrist specializing in anxiety and fear management, I’ve consistently advised my patients during the intense election cycles of 2016 and 2020 to limit their exposure to political news. I aimed to highlight how their consumption of five hours daily of cable news was primarily fostering feelings of helplessness and overwhelming fear rather than providing any constructive information.

Recently, I’ve observed a significant shift: numerous patients report feeling fatigued by politics, opting to either completely tune out or only engage briefly with political content, watching just an hour of their preferred political show. This change reflects a broader trend in public sentiment regarding political engagement.

Research aligns with my clinical observations. A Pew research study from 2020 indicated that a staggering 66% of Americans reported feeling overwhelmed by political stress. Interestingly, those who have chosen to disengage from the news experience an even higher level of fatigue, with 73% expressing similar sentiments. By 2023, a striking 80% of Americans described U.S. politics using negative descriptors such as “divisive,” “corrupt,” “messy,” and “polarized,” showcasing a widespread disillusionment.

In my analysis, three primary factors contribute to the prevalent feelings of exhaustion and burnout among Americans regarding U.S. politics.

1. Understanding the Manipulative Politics of Fear

In my 2023 publication, “AFRAID: Understanding the Purpose of Fear, and Harnessing the Power of Anxiety,” I explore how fear has become a powerful tool for American politicians and major news outlets. This intense emotion captures our attention, reinforcing tribal divides and compelling us to engage—whether by following, clicking, tapping, watching, or donating.

Over recent decades, there has been a pronounced trend towards tribalism, fostering an “us vs. them” mentality that has increasingly pitted Americans against one another. This has escalated to a point where disagreements have morphed into hatred, with individuals feeling justified in canceling, blocking, or attacking those who do not share their views.

2. Breaking Free from Information Bubbles

It can often seem as though commentators on Fox News and MSNBC are discussing entirely different realities. This disconnect extends to the diverse social media landscapes where many individuals operate.

Many find themselves entrenched in social media communities that are insular, limiting their exposure to perspectives outside their immediate environments. Algorithms on these platforms curate content that aligns with users’ existing beliefs, promoting an echo chamber effect where individuals mainly encounter views similar to their own. When they do come across opposing viewpoints, it is often framed through a negative lens, focusing on the other side’s most undesirable traits.

This profound disconnect has led to a situation where many Americans view the opposing half of the population as, at best, uninformed and, at worst, morally corrupt or evil. Such polarized perceptions make meaningful dialogue nearly impossible.

3. Political Opinions: The New Identity Markers

There was once a time in American politics when individuals could disagree on political matters yet still regard one another as fundamentally good people. However, over the years—especially since the early 2000s—this ability to empathize across political divides has significantly diminished.

A 2022 Pew Research survey revealed that a considerable majority of Democrats and Republicans now believe that a person’s political views reflect their moral character. This is a troubling shift, as 72% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats expressed the belief that members of the opposing party are more “immoral” than average Americans.

This partisan animosity manifests itself in everyday conversations among political factions. Expressions like, “How can I be friends with someone who wants to kill babies?” or “How can I engage with someone okay with women dying in clinic parking lots?” highlight the inability to recognize each other’s humanity beyond political affiliations.

Insights from Psychology and Neuroscience on Political Engagement

Fear operates as an essential survival mechanism in the human brain, often overshadowing other cognitive functions. This emotion significantly influences our memories, feelings, attention, and thought processes, compelling us to continuously monitor perceived threats through relentless scrolling and consumption of political news.

As a result, positive or neutral news may seem less engaging, as it fails to trigger the brain’s survival instincts, which are primarily engaged by fear-based narratives. This phenomenon explains why individuals become deeply engrossed in fear-driven political content.

However, excessive exposure to fear can lead to a counterproductive response, known as “learned helplessness.” In 1967, psychologist Martin Seligman conducted experiments demonstrating this concept using dogs, revealing that those who felt no control over their circumstances eventually ceased to attempt to escape their discomfort.

The implications of this experiment extend to humans, underscoring that when individuals perceive a lack of control over challenging situations, they often give up. During such experiences, the brain’s fear center, the amygdala, becomes hyperactive, while areas responsible for regulating emotions, like the prefrontal cortex, show decreased functionality.

Learned helplessness can hinder the brain’s mechanisms that typically manage anxiety and depression. In my clinical practice, I often witness patients who have endured prolonged anxiety, fear, trauma, and exhaustion exhibit symptoms of learned helplessness, manifesting as depression, lethargy, and a disconnection from their surroundings.

Factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, a decade marked by intense political strife, divisive social media environments, and a growing public disillusionment with U.S. politics and media have contributed to widespread experiences of burnout and learned helplessness.

If you find yourself feeling politically drained, remember that you are not at fault. It’s perfectly acceptable to disengage from the chaos and reclaim your mental well-being.

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This article is republished in part from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.