How Trump's distinctive and unhinged rhetoric emotionally ensnares his supporters

[UCmeNdc]

To better understand Trump’s use of language — its strengths and its pitfalls — I spoke with Roderick Hart, a professor of communication studies at the University of Texas at Austin. He wrote the book “Trump and Us: What He Says and Why People Listen”analyzing the president’s use of language and the effects it has on the population. He described to me why Trump’s rhetoric makes him stand out as a politician, and why it could present him with unique dangers in the present moment.


Trump, Hart explained, is unique among modern politicians in his use of emotion. While other candidates have used emotional language and themes before to connect with their audiences, Trump “provides an accessibility to his emotions” that most politicians instinctively avoid.

“To me, the thing that’s really distinctive is his willingness to follow his emotional trail as far as it will go and to do it in public,” Hart said.

Anyone can see this happen in real-time by simply tuning in to one of his many campaign rallies. Much of his speech is an airing of personal grievances, targeting political enemies, members of the media, or former officials he now loathes. He seethes with fury behind a lectern, and observers feel they have a transparent view of his emotional state. It’s like he lets people “crawl inside his psyche,” Hart said.


https://www.rawstory.com/2020/02/how-trumps-distinctive-and-unhinged-rhetoric-emotionally-ensnares-his-supporters/

[wishstar]

1. Watching/listening to his rallies in 2016 convinced me he had no good qualities whatsoever

I agree with author that "observers feel they have a transparent view of his emotional state" but to me it was so obvious he was a blatant liar and mean bully and thoroughly horrible disgusting person with no redeeming qualities so it still baffles me how he has succeeded in attracting and keeping his solid base of cultists

[Girard442]

2. That's the problem, isn't it.

We never knew that inside so many Americans was such a seething cauldron of hate until Trump ripped the lid off.

[Kitchari]

3. But it's all one emotion: hate

With some grievances and contempt, plus racism thrown in

[gratuitous]

4. I strongly disagree with this analysis

I am convinced that Trump doesn't experience emotions, at least not in any way a functional human being would recognize. This may be a distinction without a difference, as his play to the emotions of his audience is calculated to engage his supporters' basest emotions: Ignorance, fear, hatred, and violence. Trump doesn't feel those emotions, but he evokes them in his audience and manipulates them in his desired direction. His hearers feel simultaneously empowered ("He's one of us, telling like it is" ) and impotent ("Only I can fix this problem that 30 seconds ago you didn't care about" ).

His use of hyperbole is like that of a fire-and-brimstone preacher, keeping his audience at a high tension, feeling like they're on the edge of eternity, and about to go careening off into oblivion at any moment. It's exhilarating and exciting, like a thrill ride at an amusement park. But for all the edge-of-the-seat tension Trump generates among his addicted-to-the-thrill fanbase, he walks away from the podium unmoved, like a prostitute after the john gets his money's worth.

[Boomerproud]

5. Your last line made me think of something.

I watch the candidates at rallies on CSPAN occasionally and after the speeches they always interact with the audience (taking endless selfies or just talking) but I have NEVER seen Trump shaking hands or taking time to listen to even his most fervent loyalists. I don't think he knows how.