GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Turn on the TV and you’ll likely hear political ads.
Open your mailbox, it might be full of political mailers.
Drive around town, maybe you notice signs dot your neighbor’s front lawn.
The election is coming up and University of Wisconsin-Green Bay psychology professor Ryan Martin tells FOX 11 voters are angry.
“Voters are very angry and they always are. There’s a lot going on. In fact, one of the things we know is that it’s in politicians best interest to try and make voters angry.”
He went on to say voters who are angry or afraid are more likely to vote.
At The Attic, a Green Bay coffee shop, and one voter tells FOX 11 why she’s angry.
“I know not everyone that is in that… in one particular party all agree with each other but publicly I feel like they stay their party line and there’s no discussion as to what they can do differently to improve for their constituents.”
At a campaign event for Gov. Scott Walker over the weekend, two voters shared what makes them angry.
“Some of the negative ads, you know, and the… that they’re not true about the… not supporting our insurance. That it’s going to… preexisting conditions aren’t gonna be covered,” said Sandy Gusse.
“It’s in both sides. I think that uh, I think they should tone it down somewhat. And, I think a lot of people would uh, you know, be more willing to accept and really talk about what the issues are,” said Joe Gusse.
Martin wants to make clear the difference between anger and aggression.
“Anger is just the emotion you feel but aggression is a behavior where the intent is to hurt someone and I think while both sides are angry, I don’t know that both sides are being aggressive right now.”
He said election season allow people to voice their anger in a number of ways.
“During an election season it means they can get out and vote, register voters, they can write letters to the editor and potentially make a more meaningful difference,” he said.
It’s less than a week of campaigning left to go. Voters will head to the polls November 6th.
