Published on August 26, 2024, 12:47 am

In the intriguing world of human connections, sex and marketing, there exists a rarely explored intersection. Each one of us has, at some point, found ourselves swayed by emotions that seem untamed and unruly. While we like to perceive ourselves as civilized beings with refined sensibilities, the reality is we are often piloted by our primal emotional impulses — that’s where marketing techniques come into play.

A notable example comes from Bob Circosta’s distinguished career in sales; an industry titan known for his unparalleled achievements in selling over $3 billion worth of products via home shopping channels. Interestingly though, his most successful strategy didn’t revolve around mechanically listing product features. Instead it was rooted on making an emotional appeal to buyers about a seemingly dull attachable bookshelf. By reframing its relevance from being just a piece of furniture to a love-filled photo repository, he struck an emotional chord with consumers which subsequently led to skyrocketing sales.

We see this concept echoed beyond commercial sphere and into political arena as well with Kamala Harris’s electoral run for presidency in 2024. Despite starting off at a disadvantage due to her lackluster charisma, her team cleverly repackaged their campaign message by utilizing an effective psychological technique called mirroring.

Mirroring is a mechanism used widely within dating circles where individuals subconsciously replicate behaviors of those they find appealing or attractive. In broader terms, it’s not merely about physical mimicry but more so about reflecting each other’s thoughts, beliefs and attitudes — ultimately facilitating empathy and trust building.

Kamala Harris essentially adopted this notion within her campaign strategy – painting herself as the mirror image of voters regardless their varied ideologies or affiliations – the ultimate ‘Rorschach candidate’. By not anchoring her pitch on specific policies but rather encouraging voters to see themselves reflected within her persona, she successfully circumvented any potential counter-arguments based on policy disagreements.

Interestingly enough, mirroring as a tactic isn’t exclusive to salespersons or politicians. Narcissists are also known to leverage it extremely effectively, choreographing a persuading portrait of themselves by mimicking what their subjects want to see, thus establishing quick connections.

For instance, in the 2016 presidential run, Donald Trump used clear and substantial goals like draining the swamp and building the wall. In contrast, Kamala Harris’s campaign contained only platitudes and sentimental associations largely devoid of concrete ambitions — an approach reminiscent of Apple’s successful “I’m a Mac!” “And I’m a PC” campaign from two decades ago.

Nonetheless, questions abound about the appropriateness of such technique within political domain where stakeholder decisions impact larger socio-political realities than mere product choices. Irrespective of whether it’s Kamala Harris with her constructively vague battle cry “We won’t go back!” or any other aspiring politician – investing in not just real but also trusted news through informed journalism can serve as an effective counterweight for citizens looking to navigate complex political landscapes from a Christian Worldview.