Trump is creating fear because bad is stronger than good

In a previous blog I discussed how creating fear was more effective than telling the truth when trying  to persuade anti-vaxxers to immunize their children. 

http://pjlehrer.blogspot.com/2018/01/how-do-you-change-perception-fear.html

The principle is called "bad is stronger than good." A seminal study on the subject found that bad emotions have more impact than good ones.  Bad impressions are quicker to form and more resistant to change.  And bad events have stronger and more lasting consequences. (Baumeister, Bratslavsky, Finkenauer and Vos, 2001)

Is it any wonder that we fear them? 

We also remember them better, as our strongest memories are of negative emotional events, which we relive in our minds (and dreams) so we won't repeat our mistakes.

Perhaps the most interesting part is that what we fear need not be rooted in reality.  Tell a lie often enough and people will think it's true.  More about that here.

http://pjlehrer.blogspot.com/2018/01/if-you-tell-lie-often-enough-people.html

And that's how we got where we are today.

Baumeister, R., Bratslavsky, E., Finkenauer C., and Vos, K. (2001, April 16)  Bad Is Stronger Than Good.  Review of General Psychology.  Retrieved July 4, 2018, from

http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/handle/1871/17432/Baumeister_Review%20of%20General%20Psychology_5(4)_2001_u.pdf?sequence=2