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The firing of James Comey: Psychology helps explain what Trump got wrong

Comey was investigating connections between Russian hacking and Trump campaign

Comey
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File photo of James Comey (Photo: AP/PTI)

Robert Jervis | The Conversation

Why has President Trump failed to convince anyone other than his ardent supporters that he was justified in firing FBI Director James Comey? Even more, why did he fail to realize that the firing would call up strong objections, not only from Democrats, but from many Republicans?

The psychology of perception and decision-making helps us here. As I have shown in several books, assuming people are completely rational will mislead us. We need to grasp what people see – and what they miss – if we are to fathom why they behave as they do.

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Topics : James Comey