Who can blame anyone for feeling anxious about the looming presidential election? The stakes are high, the vote is likely to be close, and the image of the insurrection that followed the last election remains vivid in the rear-view mirror.
The fear of post-election violence is real, with a timely YouGov survey revealing that more than a quarter of Americans think after this election civil war could erupt.
Indeed, while democratic elections broadly function to ensure more voters feel they are “winners” than “losers,” the cognitive bias of loss aversion shows us that feelings of electoral loss are likely to be stronger and longer-lasting than the joy of those whose side has won.
This is particularly important to consider in a two-party system, especially when the race is this close and this polarised. The polls are plotting Trump and Harris pretty much neck and neck. That means the number of “losers” is likely to be high: Almost half of the voting population will feel discontent.
Additionally, what is concerning at this time is the sense of cynical disengagement and helplessness being felt across the political spectrum and across political democracies. Often, after an election, even supporters of the “winning” side lose faith in their leaders and develop a sense of learned helplessness—becoming depressed and feeling powerless that their conditions or that of the country can be changed. We’ve seen this in the United Kingdom, as the excitement of Starmer’s election—ending a 14-year period of Conservative rule—amongst some groups has quickly dissolved into a feeling of disenchantment. What we need to foster instead is sustainable and committed engagement.
Lessons from the detached engagement mindset
In this context, I’ve been reflecting on a post I wrote recently on detached engagement: A principle that I believe is critical to navigating the challenges of the modern world, it conceptualises remaining engaged while protecting our emotional health and equilibrium.
Holding this mindset is crucial for well-being and success in many areas of life. In the context of such an emotionally charged election, it is a challenging but important concept to embrace.
So, what can we learn from detached engagement?
1. Building perspective
Perspective is one of the building blocks of emotional detachment. Essentially, it involves recognising that both the buzz of a win and the sting of a loss are necessarily ephemeral and fade with time. Reminding ourselves of this truth can help us navigate the emotional aftershocks of the election with more clarity and calmness. Further, it may help to remind ourselves (and our leaders) that whoever wins, the president’s duty is to serve everyone—not just those who voted for them.
Additionally, by detaching ourselves from the notion that this is a vote between “good” and “evil,” we can approach this election with a healthier perspective that will allow us to protect our own peace and maintain cross-party relationships. To withstand the elections’ inevitable rupture, and to ensure social cohesion, it is important for us to establish a foundation of mutual understanding and empathy now.
2. Challenging misinformation
The climate of helplessness is concerning as it fosters voter apathy and makes people more susceptible to misinformation. When people feel like their lives are out of their control, they may look to conspiracy theories to provide meaning. Validating this, a recent YouGov survey found 41 percent of respondents believe that, regardless of who is in power, a shadowy group of people secretly control and rule the world. This tendency toward misinformation doesn’t only affect a fringe group though; theories questioning the reliability of voting machines contributed to the January 6th insurrection, and this sentiment of systemic distrust has motivated some 130 Republican-led election-related lawsuits. To resist these trends and protect democracy, we need to commit to finding the truth, reading beyond the headlines, and preserving our own well-being by setting boundaries and detaching from the news where necessary. This will facilitate more sustainable political engagement.
3. Building committed and consistent engagement
Finally, detached engagement involves embracing a sense of duty. This is helped by having a mindset of making progress, however small, rather than trying to solve all of life’s problems in one go and giving up when this does not happen. After the election, it is important for people to embrace their duty as citizens and—regardless of whether their side has won or not—to make the country a better place. By engaging and working with your community on issues that matter to you, we can tackle the current cynicism-induced sense of helplessness, which is destructive both for individual well-being and the state of society.
Adopting this mindset of detached engagement can help us navigate the inevitably significant and far-reaching impacts of this election. It can help equip us with the tools to manage loss, build bridges and a sense of community, and remain engaged in making the country better. Healthy politics demands persistent engagement, and engagement improves well-being. Whether your “side” loses or wins, don’t withdraw. Remain committed to progress and committed to truth—continue engaging in calm, peaceful, and meaningful ways.
