International Law

Insincere Cheers

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What does opera have in common with elections?

In the 1820's , the opera claque was formed - organizations which leased themselves to singers and opera companies to provide long sustained applause so that those in attendance would be assured that they had witnessed a brilliant performance.

Robin Hanson has an updated observation about cheering, and the elections in Canada and the United States.

"Sport cheers are often considered an analogy to political and ideological partisanship; we like to vote and declare our opinions similar to the way we like to cheer sport teams. 

We prefer to support positions that have have loyal impressive cheerleaders.  It is nice if those cheerleaders are also sincere, but it is not especially important to us.

It is, however, important that our idea cheerleaders be impressive and loyal. 

We might eagerly point out when leaders on the other side sound insincere, but that is mostly hypocrisy, since we don't care much about our leaders' sincerity.   

Just as we care more that our team wins than that they were actually the strongest team, we probably care more that our idea sides look good than that our ideas are true."

Leon Festinger rediscovered this phenomena in the late 1950's and observed "

"A man with a conviction is a hard man to change. Tell him you disagree and he turns away. Show him facts or figures and he questions your sources. Appeal to logic and he fails to see your point.

"We have all experienced the futility of trying to change a strong conviction, especially if the convinced person has some investment in his belief.

We are familiar with the variety of ingenious defenses with which people protect their convictions, managing to keep them unscathed through the most devastating attacks.

"But man's resourcefulness goes beyond simply protecting a belief. Suppose an individual believes something with his whole heart; suppose further that he has a commitment to this belief, that he has taken irrevocable actions because of it; finally, suppose that he is presented with evidence, unequivocal and undeniable evidence, that his belief is wrong: what will happen?

The individual will frequently emerge, not only unshaken, but even more convinced of the truth of his beliefs than ever before. Indeed, he may even show a new fervor about convincing and converting other people to his view."

Happy voting.

Full post as published by Misleading Advertising Law on October 06, 2008 (boomark / email).