Civics 101 How political “framing” shapes our thoughts
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Jun 24, 2025 Dr. Jennifer Mercieca, a communication and journalism professor and author of "Demagogue for President," delves into the power of political framing. She explains how politicians and the media manipulate language to shape public perceptions and influence opinions without our awareness. The conversation highlights the subtlety of framing, using examples like tax discourse and historical instances from the Federalist Papers. Jen offers insights on countering these narratives and explores the ethical implications of framing strategies in political communication.
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Framing Shapes Perception Unnoticed
- Framing shapes our perception of policies without our full awareness.
- Indirect persuasion through framing bypasses our brain's alert system, making it very effective.
Avoid Irony in Politics
- Avoid using irony in political messages as it creates cynicism and distrust.
- Be earnest and own your message to resist the distancing effect of irony.
Brain Laziness Enables Framing
- Our brain is a cognitive miser, working hard on bodily functions while conserving effort on thinking.
- Framing exploits our brain's laziness by assigning simple, repeated labels we accept uncritically.
