This text has been translated with the assistance of UiO GPT.
The current situation in Ukraine and the Middle East, along with a more unpredictable president in the U.S., has made many in Norway feel that war and conflict have moved closer to home.
– We are experiencing a very confusing and unstable situation in the world today, where things you thought would not happen suddenly do?- like Trump wanting to buy Greenland, says Sigrun Marie Moss, a professor at the Department of Psychology at UiO and a specialist in political psychology. She describes the state of the world as evoking a feeling that “we have thrown a lot of cards up in the air, which were previously neatly arranged in the deck.”
– Det er en ustabil, uforutsigbar tid, sier Moss.
– I oscillate between experiencing the time we live in as frightening and thinking that "it will probably be alright." Which extreme I choose depends somewhat on how I’m feeling that day, says Gunn Enli, a professor at the Department of Media and Communication at UiO and a specialist in politics and social media.
– The most frightening aspect is that the thought of war has crept closer, both in our own country and in our neighbouring regions, says Enli.
It’s nice to feel that you are helping
Both the psychology professor and the media professor believe there is a need among many to shield themselves from the state of the world while also feeling the necessity to stay informed and engaged. It’s not an either/or situation.
Both strategies are encouraged by psychology, according to Moss.
– Taking active steps in terms of action when you feel uncertainty and hopelessness leads to a sense that you are helping, that you are taking some control and reclaiming some agency, she says, but emphasises that it is also important to be able to disengage and take breaks from war and conflict.
– You don’t need to be plugged in and reading things all the time.
Gunn Enli agrees, but sees that there are multiple ways to handle today’s world.
– As media researchers, we are seeing an increasing number of young people who are so-called "news deniers"; they choose not to watch, listen to, or read the news. For a long time, we were concerned about news avoiders because they do not connect with democracy But now we also see that this - at least in small doses - can have its merits. It is healthy to be able to disconnect and take media breaks.
Shouldn't go too far
Enli points to doomscrolling as the opposite; instead of avoiding the news, one becomes obsessed, going deeper and deeper without being able to log off.
– There are many who work actively to limit their scrolling or self-regulate to avoid being sucked into a black hole, the media researcher explains.
– What strategies do you both use personally?
– I find it scarier to read headlines than to delve deeper into the material. I try to be a bit cautious about where I read and prefer to listen to podcasts that explore the topics more deeply, says Sigrun Marie Moss.
– My strategy is actually to research it and be analytical about it. One of my research fields in recent years has been Trump's media strategies and how populists use the media. In that way, my work has actually helped me maintain an analytical distance from what is happening. It is, amidst everything, gratifying to see that my field is super relevant for understanding the time we live in, Enli adds.
She emphasizes that we live in an attention economy where Trump and his campaign, in a way, have won.
– Trump and his administration are media-focused in everything they do. He knows what creates headlines and how to keep himself in the media spotlight. A crucial part of his strategy is to always be present in the news, Enli stresses.
Sigrun Marie Moss finds Trump as a leader interesting from a psychological perspective:
–The U.S. has entered a culture war with strong polarization, where different groups interpret things very differently. The narratives about the political landscape are in stark contrast to one another, she says, referring to new research that reveals that 90 percent of Republicans support what Trump is doing now, while only four percent of Democrats do.
– This represents a distance we have not seen before. It is concerning, says Moss.
Sofa activism
Social media has become an important arena for showing engagement, but is clicking 'like' or posting pictures of Ukrainian fields, or sharing images from bombed-out Gaza really helping anyone?
– This is often referred to as sofa activism. It tends to be looked down upon when people just click 'like' and don’t do anything more; they don’t engage, they don’t join demonstrations, they don’t donate money, they don’t join a political party - just clicking 'like' or changing their profile picture while sitting comfortably on the sofa, says Gunn Enli.
However, she emphasizes that many of us do both: – Those who are perhaps most active on social media and use it for activism are often also activists who participate in demonstrations. They live and breathe this, says Enli.
She emphasises that even just "liking" is a form of expression and a contribution.
– There is also a sense of community on social media. You contribute to others. You can create networks and motivate activity.
Sigrun Marie Moss agrees: – Saying something on social media is about expressing that a person belongs to a community of meaning, "Against Israel's actions in Palestine," or "Against Trump buying Greenland," or "Against the war in Ukraine." That many feel the same way can help open doors.
Easier to create a 'we' based on fear and distance from others
– Can war and conflict bring out both the best and the worst in us, even for those of us who are somewhat distanced from it?
– Psychology shows that we respond very positively to becoming a 'we.' There was a lot of talk about that after July 22, for example, and grandparents who lived through World War II spoke warmly about the feeling of community, despite being in a very difficult situation, says the psychology professor.
However, she is concerned about a polarising 'we' that seems to be growing larger.
– In psychological research, we see that leaders who try to work with identities are more effective when they work with hate and differences than when they try to promote solidarity. Unfortunately, it is easier to create a 'we' based on fear and distance from others than it is to create a large, shared 'we.'
– What do you both hope for the future, say five years from now?
– I hope that we can take with us the time we live in, with war and conflict nearby, as a turning point and a crucial moment to actually come together and create new rules. I hope that the world can actually become a fairer place for more of us in the long run, says Sigrun Marie Moss.
– I hope that those who are young today do not go down the worst possible path of polarisation, division of community, and conspiracy theories. I hope that we land on our feet and find something in common that is worth believing in, says Gunn Enli.
?
Listen to the University Podcast: how does a world with war and conflict affect you and me??
This article is based on a podcast episode with psychology professor Sigrun Marie Moss and media professor Gunn Enli, where they delve into the same topic. The episode was done in Norwegian. Listen to the entire episode in the player below, or find the University Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or its own website.