Love Your Emotions—But Don’t Trade Them

David Gaffen

About 30 years ago, a study was undertaken looking at the driving habits of people in Sweden and the United States, and participants were polled specifically on how well they thought of themselves as drivers. More than 80 percent of drivers in the U.S. considered themselves above average. A similar survey taken five years later found a similar conclusion, with four out of five believing their skills exceeded that of the average driver.

A similar dynamic exists in people’s opinions of the U.S. Congress. For years, Congress, as an institution, has had abysmal ratings, ranging somewhere around a 20 percent approval rate. Yet when election season rolls around, most representatives are elected in ...