Culture and Identity

American Identity: Creed, character, and culture

Creed:(What you believe)

Moral identity

Belief in equality

Character:(How you behave)

Living in a “pro social” way

Team-spiritedness, industry, perseverance, mutuality, reciprocity, responsibility, empathy, service, and cooperation

Culture:

Culture of unity

Anthems, rituals, colors, and civic scriptures

The Liberal Consensus:

Beliefs in equality, private property, liberty, individualism, and religious freedom

Ascriptive Americanism:

Implicit hierarchy in American society

Those at top deserve full rights and benefits of liberalism, those below do not

3 Types of Political Culture

Moralistic:

Government as a means to better society and promote the general welfare. They expect political officials to be honest in their dealings with others, put the interests of the people they serve above their own, and commit to improving the area they represent.

Individualistic:

Government as a mechanism for addressing issues that matter to individual citizens and for pursuing individual goals. People in this culture interact with the government in the same manner they would interact with a marketplace. They expect the government to provide goods and services they see as essential, and the public officials and bureaucrats who provide them expect to be compensated for their efforts.

Traditionalistic:

Government as necessary to maintaining the existing social order, the status quo. Only elites belong in the political enterprise and as a result, new public policies will be advanced only if they reinforce the beliefs and interests of those in power.

Identity Politics Paranoia in American political thought:

Debate over whether it strengthens or divides democracy.

Critics (e.g., Fukuyama) argue that highlighting differences leads to exclusion.

Defenders (e.g., Stacey Abrams) argue that marginalized groups must engage in identity politics to fight discrimination.

Why do some scholars criticize Hofstadter?

Hofstadter’s View: Right-wing movements feel dispossessed and see conspiracies everywhere (e.g., “America is being taken away”).

Criticism of Hofstadter:

Left and right scholars argue pathologizing the right is condescending.

Reduces political opposition to irrational fear instead of real grievances.

Chris Lehman: Paranoia isn’t just a reaction but a tool for power expansion.

Conspiracy theories:

Often arise from distrust in elites, institutions, or perceived exclusion from power.

Exaggerate threats & blame “hidden forces” (deep state, media, foreign actors).

Create a self-reinforcing cycle—distrust fuels more conspiracies.

Cognition vs. Emotion

Cognition:

Logical/ rational thought processing of information

Emotion:

Emotional thought processing of information

Anxiety and its effects

Anxiety increases political engagement but also reduces rational decision-making.

Leads to more extreme views, demand for security, and susceptibility to authoritarian rhetoric/ doom scrolling

Framed vs. Unframed

Framed:

A threat that needs to be explained

Ex: DEI, Climate change, and national debt

Unframed:

A threat that doesn’t need to be explained

Ex: Earthquakes

Threats The role of disgust/wellness:

Disgust is linked to moral & political conservatism (e.g., fear of outsiders, purity concerns).

Public health & wellness narratives can be politicized (e.g., vaccine skepticism).

Fear-based rhetoric often ties disgust to political “threats” (immigration, crime, cultural change)