The Power of Suggestion
The power of suggestion has long been studied by psychologists, marketing professionals, and politicians interested in learning about how we are influenced to think a certain way or believe in certain things, however inconceivable. I’m sure we all can find examples of a time when someone said that another person was rude or a book was boring or a movie was too long and sure enough, our impression of the person, book, or movie, turned out just as was suggested. Of course, the person might really be rude and the book boring and the movie long, but one wonders what our opinion might have been had the suggestions never been made.
I have been noting instances when a political speech or a piece of writing or another type of communication has been initially interpreted a certain way then reinterpreted after a strong opinion was voiced on the communication. Even with a firm understanding about the power of suggestion, I find myself moved by a clip or a quote passed along by social media. With the barrage of messages received each day, how could anyone apply critical analysis to formulate independent assessments of all this information? It’s easier to consume the communication prepackaged as it is, with interpretation already provided.
Somehow, we’ve also become a divided nation, ready for a fight, easily insulted, distrustful, and unforgiving, making it easier to become influenced by a call to arms supported by another’s interpretation of a dialogue, article, or message and without a connection to the person or an understanding of context. Isolated as we are at this time, we can become further divided.
Let’s make extra efforts to suspend judgment, become quick to forgive, reflect on our own words in an effort to ensure that we consider others’ feelings, and use our own power of persuasion to bring about positivity and unity. As the political messaging ramps up as November draws near, let’s also make sure to check on how the messaging is affecting our feelings, especially our feelings toward one another. The threat of COVID-19 to our physical health is outmatched by the threat of negativity to our mental health.
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