Righteous indignation isn’t going to change anything. Donald Trump, Roy Blunt, the Missouri Legislature, even though rightful targets for our vitriol, really aren’t the problem (although they all are poised to cause a lot of problems). No. The real problems for us are the people who voted for and elected these legislators: Our neighbors.
I think it a worthy mission for each one of us who call ourselves Democrat, Progressive or Liberal to reach out to and talk with . . . our neighbors.
So how do you do that? How do you persuade Republicans — your neighbors — to come back to middle ground, to embrace and value discourse and compromise? To, in the least, debate without resorting to threats and name-calling?
SOME COMMUNICATION PSYCHOLOGY
In the 20th Century, much work on the psychology of human communication was reported by Carl Jung and William Moulton Marston among many others. The research explained that people have definite preferences for how they like to receive and send information.
Terms for two of those preferences (there are four in total and sometimes called styles) are Influencer and Analyzer. Influencers prefer to work with other people to solve problems. They use language, personal persuasion, appeal to emotion – feeling — and immediate context to “influence” outcomes. Analyzers prefer to use tools or things to solve problems. They prefer logical and orderly patterns of thought. This group relies on content – facts — for meaning.
These aren’t rigid and fixed styles. They are preferences — “comfort zones.” We all can flex toward the other style. We can compromise.
INFLUENCER OR ANALYZER
For a person with an Influencer preference, results and relationships are equally important, sometimes relationships more so. Subjectivity counts.
For one who prefers an analyzer approach there is little room for subjectivity and all that really matters is the end result, the bottom line.
ANALYZERS AS MANAGERS
Some who use an Analyzer style manage by personal authority. Others who use this style manage with authority that is bestowed by data. Who can argue with facts, right? The former is an “authoritarian analyzer” who directs by assertion. The latter, a “logic analyzer,” collects data and distills direction from it.
An “authoritarian analyzer” needs only two data points to make a decision (because two points imply direction,) is quick about making it, and doesn’t retract. This style we find in many CEO’s. It is Donald Trump’s style.
The “logic analyzer” collects data, lots of it, sifts through it carefully, and, after a long time thinking about it, comes to a conclusion – an answer – which he or she is wholly committed to. Gant charts, spreadsheets, and QA processes are the tools this person builds and uses. Being correct is most important to a person with this style. Hilary Clinton uses primarily a “logic analyzer” style.
It is interesting, that Trump’s and Clinton’s behaviors suggest that they both possess analyzer preferences. He the authoritarian director; she the data distiller.
(Note that what we describe here is the psychology of “normal behavior.” Delusional thinking, emotional immaturity, paranoia, narcissism and sociopathic manipulation make real communication extremely problematic.)
FEELING AND FACT
There is bias. Influencers mistrust Analyzers because, according to them, you have to take people into account, you have to be, at least, a little subjective. Analyzers mistrust Influencers because they think there is little to no room for human “feeling” when it comes to the objectivity required for getting results.
THE ANSWER
Many Progressive Democrats (PDs) prefer an Influencer style. We care as much about people as we do for results, and sometimes more. We require subjectivity.
But to succeed in engaging a results minded analytical neighbor, PD’s have to suspend emotion and master fact. Certainly, we’d like it reciprocated, but we can control only ourselves and our own actions.
Finally, these are broad generalizations that have only some practical value. They do, however, take us beyond the impotency of righteous indignation, emotional tirades and vitriol and, hopefully, place us face to face with our neighbor.
Submitted by Mark Kumming, WCD Member