The United States Of Emotion

Last year’s American elections were like no other. The beef between people who supported the Democrats versus the ones who supported the Republicans didn’t die down after the results were announced, like it usually happened. Actually, almost a year after the elections, friendships and families keep breaking up because the members’ difference in opinions. That prompted CNN’s Vanessa Yurkevich to set up a voicemail, asking the audience to share their experiences: “Whatever your political leanings, we want to hear about how this political climate is impacting your life and your relationships.” She then consulted with an expert in negotiating and a psychologist to find out what’s causing people to still be so fiery about the matter, and how could those relationships improve.

The calls selected were from a Bernie Sanders supporter, who experienced bullying from her neighbours, a Trump supporter who broke off contact with her cousin, a man who has lost all respect and appreciation for his mom because she suported Trump, and, most interestingly, a couple who seem to have figured out what all the other three haven’t been able to. He’s a Republican and she’s a Democrat and they’re still together as a couple, even though her friends have turned against her for dating a guy with that political option, and he has lost friends of his own.

The experts analysing the calls talked about the tendency to avoid conflict, anger, the feeling of being misunderstood, a loss of identity and the tribes effect They pointed out that both sides have the desire for a better world, they just have different ideas of how to achieve that, and that we should be looking at the couple for inspiration: “They're a good microcosm for what we should be doing”.