Liberals vs Conservative thought differences: What does the Science say?

Started by Sci Fi Fan, November 27, 2013, 06:42:49 PM

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Sci Fi Fan

http://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822%2811%2900289-2

The study found that liberals on average had more active anterior cingulate cortexes, the part of the brain handling, at least in part, error detection (Bush G, Luu P, Posner MI), decision making (Hewitt, John) and empathy (Decety, J.; Jackson).  Unrelated studies had found that repeat criminal offenders typically possess reduced ACC activity.  The ACC is also known to facilitate a greater degree of tolerance for uncertainty and conflicting viewpoints (Kanai).

Conversely conservatives registered larger amygdalas, which deal with more emotional and intuitive responses, particularly a heightened sensation of fear (Knutson, B; Rick).  To be fair, the amygdalas also handles parts of social interactions and memory.

Also a few more studies that should be self explanatory enough:

http://2012election.procon.org/sourcefiles/low-effort-thought-promotes-political-conservatism-2012.pdf
http://2012election.procon.org/sourcefiles/Amodio_Neurocognitive_Correlates.pdf
http://2012election.procon.org/sourcefiles/Dodd_Politics_of_Attention.pdf
http://2012election.procon.org/sourcefiles/political-ideology-exploration-of-novel-stimuli-and-attitude-formation-2009.pdf

Thoughts?

norwegen

Two isolated regions of the brain - the anterior cingulate cortex and  the right amygdala - are both associated, in some measure with memory and emotion.  At the end of the wash cycle, the liberal youths and the conservative youths are still sloshed around the same rinse water.

And the study involved youths - a group of people who generally don't even know where Scandinavia is.  When brains are less malleable, studies are more concrete.  Or at least more interesting.
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redlom xof

I wont pretend to know what the majority of the science is behind these findings, but I'm always skeptical trying to correlate political opinions with science.

The environment one lives is the deciding factor with the issue of political ideologies. The persuasive power of the corporate media is far more damaging than any gene.
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Solar

Don't feed a troll that actually thinks phrenology a valid science.
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kopema

Quote from: Sci Fi Fan on November 27, 2013, 06:42:49 PM
studies had found that repeat criminal offenders typically possess reduced ACC activity.  The ACC is also known to facilitate a greater degree of tolerance for uncertainty and conflicting viewpoints (Kanai).

Doublethink isn't some brand-new science that was just invented.  It existed a LONG time before rational thought came into vogue.

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Sci Fi Fan

Overall, a variety of studies from independent sources seem to converge on the idea that liberalism correlates strongly with evolutionarily novel beliefs and strategies, whereas conservatism is rooted more strongly in tribalism and negative stimuli (ie. fear).  It's been found that liberalism correlates with higher intelligence quotients, atheism and male sexual monogamy, whereas conservatism correlates with lower IQ's, racism and xenophobia. 

To be fair, conservatives do typically donate more money to charity - a higher proportion even after you adjust for church donations.  Of course this may be rather misleading as conservatives tend to make less money, and people who make less money surprisingly are more charitable.

quiller

Kid, you are so full of shit Obama needs to pardon you or else carve you for dinner.

If libs are that smart, why is Obamacare failing so miserably?

Sci Fi Fan

Quote from: quiller on November 28, 2013, 07:12:05 AM
Kid, you are so full of shit

And surely you have some evidence that these studies are all inaccurate beyond your say-so?

Quote
If libs are that smart, why is Obamacare failing so miserably?

If conservatives are that smart, why haven't we found any WMDs in Iraq?

walkstall

Quote from: quiller on November 28, 2013, 07:12:05 AM
Kid, you are so full of shit Obama needs to pardon you or else carve you for dinner.

If libs are that smart, why is Obamacare failing so miserably?


I am sorry that does not mathematically compute.    :rolleyes:   :lol:
A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.- James Freeman Clarke

Always remember "Feelings Aren't Facts."

Sci Fi Fan

Quote from: walkstall on November 28, 2013, 07:16:30 AM
I am sorry that does not mathematically compute.    :rolleyes:   :lol:

You mock my use of the word "mathematics"?  I'm sorry, just what exactly do you think election predictions were based on?   :rolleyes:

walkstall

Quote from: Sci Fi Fan on November 28, 2013, 07:18:51 AM
You mock my use of the word "mathematics"?  I'm sorry, just what exactly do you think election predictions were based on?   :rolleyes:

Yes I do.   :lol:  You need to pull your "mathematics" head out of you ass.   Predictions are based on what is ask and how it is ask and by what side is asking.

A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.- James Freeman Clarke

Always remember "Feelings Aren't Facts."

Solar

Quote from: Sci Fi Fan on November 28, 2013, 07:14:16 AM
And surely you have some evidence that these studies are all inaccurate beyond your say-so?

If conservatives are that smart, why haven't we found any WMDs in Iraq?
It's one thing to post this nonsense in jest, but to try and equate it to actual science is evidence you know absolutely nothing about real research.

Post this kind of shit again, and you'll find yourself accompanying it out the door with your ass in tow.
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Sci Fi Fan

Quote from: walkstall on November 28, 2013, 07:24:57 AM
Yes I do.   :lol:  You need to pull your "mathematics" head out of you ass.   Predictions are based on what is ask and how it is ask and by what side is asking.

So you admit that your 2012 election predictions were based on your gut rather than the math?

Quote from: Solar on November 28, 2013, 07:26:08 AM
It's one thing to post this nonsense in jest, but to try and equate it to actual science is evidence you know absolutely nothing about real research.

Post this kind of shit again, and you'll find yourself accompanying it out the door with your ass in tow.

Perhaps you'd care to point out the flaws in methodology and where these studies err, rather than just vaguely dismissing them as "nonsense"?

You know, you once claimed that gases weren't significantly affected by gravity; who the hell are you to accuse others of ignorance of "real research"?

quiller

Quote from: Sci Fi Fan on November 28, 2013, 07:14:16 AM
And surely you have some evidence that these studies are all inaccurate beyond your say-so?

If conservatives are that smart, why haven't we found any WMDs in Iraq?

Why haven't you found a good reason to support America?