Introduction
George Lakoff’s “Moral Politics” shows that highly influential parental models effectively frame the political offshoots of the Strict Father and the Caregiving Parent. Such beliefs, which have merged into the culture of one nation or a group of people, are very likely to make a person think a certain way when he/she encounters a political problem. In this way, the deeper explanations of politicization related to mask-wearing in COVID-19 offshoots contribute to a microcosm explaining the root causes of this phenomenon. Due to the connection between the Strict Father’s independent attitude to societal issues and the Caregiving Parent’s social care responsibility for society’s well-being, the broader political landscape reflects it. Lakoff’s reasoning helps us to see the complexity of political thinking underlying a simple political action, thus staking the relationship between personal values and the public perception of health practices.
Model Explanation
Strict Father Model
The Strict Father model depicts a family power model where the father acts as the parent with all the moral values; he has to bring discipline and self-discipline to his children. The polity at the core of this model is constituted by principles of collective morality, individual responsibility, and personal responsibility (Lakoff, 1995). The Strict Father model is a worldview that describes the world as a place of competition, where merit gets its deserving treatment by those with godly self-control, moral discipline, and performance.
Nurturant Parent Model
However, in contrast, the nurturing parent style provides an exemplary situation, where e family is empathetic, cooperative, and helpful. Both the mother and the father are repositories of various values, as they are caring, try to build up the feeling that they have a homeland, and emphasize being fair and fighting for justice (Lakoff, 2006). According to this view, reality is interlinked through a common influence, and it is the duty of all of us to pursue mutual interests and collective prosperity.
Application to Wearing Masks during COVID-19
Strict Father (Conservative) Perspective
Conservatives, with the Strict Father perspective, see that wearing masks in the COVID-19 crisis as an aspect of being oneself and one is comparable to moral order and self-discipline. Word pictures like “Moral Balance” and “Moral Energy” are the primary sources of argument they use (Lakoff, 1995). Conservatism propounds the idea that people should care for themselves from head to toe by adhering to accepted standards, identifying the strict father motif that emphasizes discipline.
Moral Order: Conservatives, in their views, state that mask-wearing has a profound moral obligation towards sustaining the social order and ensuring the protection of others and oneself. Adherence to the prevalent rules of conduct shows one’s devotion to the deed of discipline and higher moral principles.
Moral Strength: Conservatives estimate their indifference to masks as a manifestation of self-sufficiency. The prohibition advocates public safety and abetted selflessness, reiterating that individual accountability is the lynchpin.
Nurturant Parent (Liberal) Perspective
The liberals’ worldview is based on the Nurturant Parent model symbols such as “Moral Empathy” and “Moral Social Nurturance.” Their stand on whether or not wearing masks is advisable is influenced by the same argument that they should be a priority for community members to protect themselves from the COVID-19 infection.
Moral Empathy: Conservatives contend that putting on a mask represents an act of empathy that conveys caring for the joint welfare of all the individuals in the community (Lakoff, 2006). It acts as if it is easy to defend at least one siding with humanity, which implies a generous feeling.
Moral Social Nurturance: The liberal frame of mind looks at the frequent application of masks as a form of group work aimed at helping to develop society and protect it. It emphasizes the sense of community among people and lightens the manner of jointly preserving community health.
Application of Models and Metaphors
Lakoff’s models of the body and metaphors of writing a blank check reveal why conservatives and liberals may have been targeted at being masked and absent of the face during COVID-19. While the conservative strategy focuses on personal responsibility and moral conformity, the liberal strategy centres on collective welfare and social nurturing.
Conservatives may also view mask-wearing as part of the Strict Father’s metaphorical attributes, borrowing from moral order, personal ethics, and the display of individual power. However, in contrast to the liberals, even though they used the same Nurturant Parent model in their metaphors, they employed an empathetic concept. They framed it with collective effort and social nurturance.
Conclusion
At last, the models and metaphors of George Lakoff demonstrate that political beliefs are woven from the complex fabric of the mind in a seemingly detailed manner. Such metaphorical connotations observed during the application of these models to masks donned in the COVID-19 pandemic reflect the profound logic underpinning political ways of thinking. In a way, deconstructing the relations of the Strict Father and Nurturant Parent models helps us see the brain processes that produce these political positions underneath the debate.
References
Lakoff, G. (2006). [Do not Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values] | C-SPAN.org. Retrieved from www.c-span.org website: https://www.c-span.org/video/?190817-1/dont-elephant-values
Lakoff, G. (1995). Metaphor, Morality, Politics, Or, Why Conservatives Have Left Liberals in the Dust. Social Research, 62(2), 177–214. Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7vp15113
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