Human psychology, the referendum and the aftermath

[sorenofthejnaii]

It's fascinating. I wonder what the human psychologists are making of this.
How decisions were made and what influenced them. How much we justified them and then searched for data to justify them.

The role of soundbites to appeal to our view.
Looking at the same information but interpreting it relative to the views you hold.
Hindsight bias.
How people are reacting afterwards.

There must be a lot of people analysing the referendum and observing human behaviour afterwards. Social media must give a fascinating insight.

The Human zoo on R4 was fascinating in the run up to the referendum on how we humans behave.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b036tbly

I feel for many voters they felt they were not being heard so whatever either campaign said they had already made up their minds

Life for them wasn't getting better it was getting harder and how was being in the EU helping them

I'm a psychotherapist so believe in the power of bein listened to

And the more doom and gloom the remain party predicted the stronger their feelings of well we can take it on we are strong enough we suffering already are you

I still blame labour for turning their backs on people but that a different thread

I blame Labour as well. They are so busy listening to each other that they have forgotten that they are supposed to be listening to voters. And I say that as a Labour Party member who voted Leave

The sooner the middle ground can find their voices, the better. I agree Joysmum.

The sooner the middle ground can find their voices, the better

That's interesting. Yet another 'Human zoo' programme on the views we hear and how we don't think our views are extreme because we hear views that our like ours - the echo chamber and all that.

I think that's a danger of our political system - you get people surrounded by people who think like you and forget that there are people who probably have 'the middle ground' and your views are on the more extreme of overall public opinion.

I do wonder how many people have 'the middle ground' and if politicians (on all sides) ever hear the middle ground?

Interesting thread sore, I'm finding it exceptionally fascinating too and its been dominating my thoughts all week.
elements I'm finding myself in agreement with you on here and other threads as well.

I hope the thread can stay on the subject of the psychology of all this.

I hope the thread can stay on the subject of the psychology of all this

Me too. There's plenty of other threads out there.

I do think MN provides valuable research material for any psychologist analysing human behaviour

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03wyr3c/horizon-20132014-9-how-you-really-make-decisions

This was shown this week on BBCfour. It covers bias and the slow/fast decision making systems.

It is interesting isn't it.

The reason I use the term 'middle ground' regarding mine and my social set is because all of us voted on balance because we saw the merits of both sides. Given the choice of voting for Leave based on immigration and hate, and remain, we'd have voted remain.

Likewise if those who voted remain felt as sure as I do that the middle voters added to the remain vote far outnumber the more extreme.

Anyway I'm ideally guilty of derailing a thread so I'll shut up now!

My dad is convinced that it's down to people who vote with their hearts vs their heads. I am not sure that is true, but it's a theory that will be tested next time I imagine, because if it is then the result would suggest that if you capture people's hearts, you will win.

Caitlinohara, I think your Dad's got a point. I'm this instance I'd re-phrase 'head v heart' as 'economy v immigration'.

I think now it's to early as emotions are running high but it will be interesting for there to be a study on how people decided who to vote for and I'm sure there will be many

Questions such as did you vote on your experience of life, did experts/an expert sway your vote, were you influenced by social media, who influenced your vote

I was surprised how stressed people were about the referendum who had not really shown an interest in politics it was very stressful time

I made my decision on which way to vote, before the referendum date was set.

That's why I love MN. It is certainly not an Echo Chamber for me and gives me powerful insights into the views and lives of people totally outside my normal everyday experience, and comfort zone.

Marking my place. I've been pondering the same.

I made my decision on which way to vote, before the referendum date was set

I bet a lot of people probably did - and nothing anyone said could have persuaded them to change their minds.

I was struck by watching Boris on a video. Were politicians trying to get people to change their mind or were they talking to people who thought like them and were getting them to go and vote?

Changing people's mind is difficult. Getting them passionate about their cause and getting them to vote must be a lot easier.

oneart no no, that's not it at all!! If it is head vs heart (I really DON"T think it's that simple) then it's practicality vs ideology, surely. The number 1 reasons given in the Ashcroft poll for Remainers was fear of the risks to the economy, and for Leavers it was about decisions that affected the UK should be made in the UK (i.e. sovereignty). I certainly voted Leave for that reason, but I won't go back into that now!

oneart too simplistic for me!

One of my main drivers as a leave voter was the economy. Less so immigration although I find the concept of free movement problematic.

I knew the uncertainty would cause problems, as I work in a related field. I still voted the way I did as I feel in the long term, we are far better off out.

This the economic forecasts of doom didn't hugely sway me although I was amazed that they didn't sway others more

The speech Boris gave in the last referendum debate was great. He looked confident he was rallying the troops - follow me I am confident we can do this I know we can let's show them how

I think it worked for many people who were still unsure

I wasn't sure if I would carry out my instinctive vote until I was sure human rights were not part of the EU and I was confident that the EU nationals were on balance protected to stay where they currently are electing to live. Once I was confident as you can be, I went forward with my instinctive vote and nothing changed my mind, despite all the guilt attempts.

sore I came completely full circle, which is why this thread is interesting to me. I went into it assuming that of course I would vote Remain, then I looked at the two sides and realised it was not at all obvious (I am a lifelong Labour supporter and member by the way, so it was not at all Left vs Right for me) and I was undecided for a very long time. I am absolutely satisfied that I considered both sides. The very few people I know who voted Leave were also undecided for a long time. I don't know anyone on either side who didn't consider it very seriously, which is actually quite reassuring.

When I wrote to my brexit MP to tell him what I thought of his decision to vote Leave notwithstanding all the evidence, I told him, (among other angry stuff!) that Leaver MPs have engaged in 'groupthink' on a scale that will amaze business school students for years to come.

I do think that's what we have seen here. Groupthink, led by charismatic leadership. Only Wollaston had the courage to break away - and even in her case, I think the postal votes were already in by the time she changed her mind? I may be wrong about that.

I've posted this link before.

www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/06/brexit-voters-self-interest/489350/

I think this Ixford Economist nails it.

Interesting link

Agree with much of what was written. How could so many experts be son out of touch it's astonishing

I hope there is some kind of discussion in the future about what impact social media has had on the aftermath of the referendum, especially with younger people,

I have two nieces who have both told me they didn't vote and they really didn't, my brother WA very annoyed with them lolling about the house all day when they had plenty of time to go vote.

But...

On Facebook and Twitter (They've probably forgotten they added their old auntie on there) they are EXTREMELY vocal about being upset at having their future stolen from them, they can't believe old and poor people stole the EU from them and they are very very angry.

It does make me wonder exactly how many of these scores of angry young people on social media actually, you know, voted.

And how many just saw a moral bandwagon and leapt on it so they could make the drives feel better than others.

The offended generation Peppatina, it gives them power to identify as the downtrodden and mob hunt other groups of people. I was so relieved to hear Clair Fox on radio two a few weeks ago, promoting her book. I am part way through it and am so pleased I am not alone with my thoughts.