Opinion: Which works best, fear or hope?
While often lambasted for being a negative method of persuasion, fear-based communications can be very effective in one-off scenarios. The US presidential election circus is underway. Much of the language and the dark imagery of political ads stoke fears — fears of ISIS, fears of immigrants, fears of job losses and even of the end of the American way of life. The feelings range from High Anxiety to Zombie Apocalypse. Midst all this, a sweet, upbeat, lyrical ad from Senator Bernie Sanders floats above the detritus to the strains of Simon and Garfunkel.[..]