George Lakoff, author, and professor of cognitive science and linguistics, has figured out something enormously important: FRAMING.
His short book Don’t Think of an Elephant explains it. The elephant you mustn’t think of is big, grey, has large ears, tusks and a trunk. The word “elephant” is a frame, and automatically conjures up a host of associated thoughts and memories. All human thought uses frames.
This is important in politics: People don’t make decisions with facts and argument, as much as with frames, and frames can be used to manipulate people.
For example, “tax relief” is a frame. Putting the two words together makes taxation an affliction, from which you need relief. The politician who can “relieve” you is a hero, and anyone trying to stop him is a villain, trying to prevent your relief.
If called a “tax and spend liberal,” for example, don’t accept the frame but change it to express your values. Like saying: “We deserve good schools, and responsible adults pay their way.”
Lakoff says there is no middle in American politics. People have different, often competing, frames in them. Supporting one frame suppresses competing frames. A politician who tries to have it both ways can be seen as a political hack and untrustworthy.
The conservative and progressive worldviews dividing our country can be understood as two different systems of frames for how FAMILIES (and our country) should operate.
Conservatives believe in a STRICT FATHER family:
The world is a dangerous place, and it always will be, because there is evil out there.
The world is also difficult because it is competitive. There will always be winners and losers. There is absolute right and absolute wrong. Children are born bad, in the sense that they just want to do what feels good, not what is right. Therefore, they have to be made good. The strict father protects the family, supports the family, and teaches his children right from wrong.
A child must be obedient. The Strict Father is a moral authority who knows right from wrong. The way to teach kids obedience (that is, right from wrong) is through punishment.
The Strict Father frame is hierarchical: God above man, men above women, strong above weak, Whites above Nonwhites, straights above gays, man above Nature. Everyone is responsible for him/herself. If you are wealthy (or poor), you deserve to be.
By contrast, progressives believe in the NURTURANT PARENT model. The assumption is that children are born good and can be made better. The world can be made better. The parents’ job is to nurture their children and teach them to nurture others. Politically, help people.
September 7, 2022 Hank Stone: hstone@rochester.rr.com Weekly Page #15
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Hank Stone hstone@rochester.rr.com