Expert Q&A on political super humanizing

University of Victoria (UVic) political ecologist, James K. Rowe, examines social and ecological justice and their intersection with social movements. He researches the political dangers of “death denial” and the pursuits of heroism enacted by some political leaders. He is the author of Radical Mindfulness: Why Transforming Fear of Death is Politically Vital. Rowe’s research is useful in examining recent developments in US politics. 

Q. Does political violence bolster approval ratings? If so, why? 

A. Bumps in approval ratings post-violence always depend on circumstance, but when they happen, it is for two reasons—one obvious and one less so. The obvious reason is that being victimized helps to humanize politicians and generates sympathy—even from opponents. The less obvious reason is that it can “super humanize” politicians, making them seem invincible if they survive, like they have command over the vital powers of life and death. 

Q. In your book, Radical Mindfulness, you refer to “death denialism.” Please explain this concept. 

A. We are beings who die and can imagine our deaths. These realities create considerable anxiety. If we don’t address these anxieties head on, then we tend to manage them in indirect ways, often by pursuing status, or by pursuing bigness, vis-à-vis others, as a way of compensating for the smallness it is easy to feel as a mortal being. In the words of anthropologist Ernest Becker, we regularly pursue heroism to achieve a form of “symbolic immortality” that we think might protect us from the nothingness of death.  

An example of death denialism can be seen by looking at the recent attack against President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents’ dinner. Trump works to cultivate a persona of a superhero, which is demonstrated in two ways. First, he presents himself as unencumbered by mortality (whitened teeth, tanned skin, assiduously managed hair, brazen tough talk and many other markers of vitality). Secondly, he pursues symbolic immortality by seeking status (wealth, name recognition on buildings, planes, Bibles and even sneakers). He strives to be larger than life, above the rest of humanity, and ultimately, superhuman. 

Heroism can also be pursued vicariously. This is something many of us do with our preferred sports teams, celebrities and politicians, feeling their victories and losses like our own. 

Q. What is Terror Management Theory (TMT)?  

A. Terror management theory is a body of social psychology that is rooted in the work of Ernest Becker and tracks how our relationships to life and death shape political outcomes. According to TMT, we cope with our anxieties about death by pursuing “earthly heroism”—meaning that we seek esteem according to our chosen world views.  

There is a growing body of experimental evidence to support this hypothesis. For example, studies have shown how reminders of death can intensify in-group identification and out-group demonization. For example, reminders of death have been found to make white people more sympathetic to those expressing racist views. Likewise, reminders of death can also intensify status-based consumption. 

A key implication of TMT is that it is politically important to transform our cultural relationship to death so that we do not pursue often unconscious and destructive coping strategies. 

Read book review of Radical Mindfulness: Why Transforming Fear of Death is Politically Vital