In short, it is far harder to make angry people fearful. The “affect bias” arising out of anger mediates people’s estimation of negative outcomes, which is why angry people are more inclined to engage in risky behavior—the same is true whether they are voting or starting a bar fight. If you have ever been in a bar fight, you know that literally the worst way imaginable to make your opponent think twice about a rash move is to yell threats at him. It only eggs him on.
