Here is the self-satisfied pronouncement of a leader who has performed an exceptional feat:
"Today I am very proud of myself because I have accomplished something that nobody else has been able to accomplish."
It was Donald Trump's idiosyncratic response to President Obama's decision to brandish his birth certificate, that proved he was indeed born in the US and thus eligible to occupy the White House. The President later quipped that Trump, who had been voicing doubts about Obama's birthplace and trying to portray the President as an out-group interloper, could now turn his attention to finding out whether the Moon landings were faked. And, this week, Trump finally ruled himself out as a Presidential contender.
Trump for President?
Trump is a somewhat caricatured figure best known for his property developments, his casinos, his reality television series The Apprentice, his hair, and his ever-present presidential ambitions. Since 2000, he's variously put himself forward as a potential candidate, published a book on how America should reshape itself economically, donated to both the Democrat and Republican parties, and switched sides on the issue of abortion (from pro to anti).
In a television interview conducted before he eliminated himself from White House contention, he menacingly suggested that if he didn't win the Republican nomination for President then he would consider running as an independent. As one writer on CNN's website put it:
"In every election cycle, someone arrives to provide a political freak show, but even by those standards, the fascination of some Republicans for Donald Trump defies easy explanation."
In fact, it doesn't. We CAN offer an explanation of why Trump continues to fascinate (although it's not necessarily an easy one).
And, as we explain in our book Naturally Selected, it hinges on the fact that our psychology was primarily shaped in a pre-television era.
In fact, we carry, by and large, the brains of our Stone Age ancestors, who operated in small groups of kith and kin. Everyone knew everyone else. In these groups, people stood out for a reason - they were exceptionally important to group survival, perhaps by being talented at hunting or skilled at negotiating with nearby communities. When they spoke, your ancestors listened. And it's a good job too - the art of following and listening to the right person allowed your ancestors to flourish enough to begin a bloodline that ends with you, or your children, or your grandkids.
But the environment today is very different from the one your ancestors needed to negotiate, and this trips us up. We call it the Mismatch Hypothesis:
Though existing in only virtual form on your screen, their continual presence tricks our Stone Age brains into thinking we know and trust them. If you don't have political talent, then getting yourself plastered across the media is a great way to muscle into the political arena.
You will become known to the masses, even if they don't really know why you're famous. The masses will think you're famous for a reason. And it doesn't really matter why you're famous - the important thing is the public will think they know you. That's the premise of ALL reality TV shows.
So, if you're a screen star contemplating a move to public office, isn't it comforting to know that you don't have to do all that annoying stuff like working tirelessly for charities or understanding the finer points of fiscal policy, because you've already been a pretend cowboy (Ronald Reagan) or a monosyllabic action hero (Arnold Schwarzenegger) or a reality TV tycoon ( Donald Trump)?
By Anjana Ahuja & Mark van Vugt
