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"Even in humdrum nonpolitical decisions, liberals and conservatives literally think differently, researchers show.
By Denise Gellene, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 10, 2007
Exploring the neurobiology of politics, scientists have found that liberals tolerate ambiguity and conflict better than conservatives because of how their brains work.
In a simple experiment reported today in the journal Nature Neuroscience, scientists at New York University and UCLA show that political orientation is related to differences in how the brain processes information.
Previous psychological studies have found that conservatives tend to be more structured and persistent in their judgments whereas liberals are more open to new experiences. The latest study found those traits are not confined to political situations but also influence everyday decisions.
The results show "there are two cognitive styles -- a liberal style and a conservative style," said UCLA neurologist Dr. Marco Iacoboni, who was not connected to the latest research.
This is almost the same thing as saying that artists and engineers think and perceive life differently.
Liberals, from my limited experience, have been more feeling based. Liberals tend to "care" about issues and how they relate to people.
Conservatives, from my limited experience, tend to make their opinions based on "facts." Whereas to say that a conservative would rather want cold-hard facts related to an issue.
Now, this is just from my limited experience and perception of the world. There are probably a lot of exceptions.. but this is just how I perceive things.
This is almost the same thing as saying that artists and engineers think and perceive life differently.
Liberals, from my limited experience, have been more feeling based. Liberals tend to "care" about issues and how they relate to people.
Conservatives, from my limited experience, tend to make their opinions based on "facts." Whereas to say that a conservative would rather want cold-hard facts related to an issue.
Not-so-subtle spin.
You make a fair point in there, but the way you articulate it is a little humorous.
It seems that people who gravitate towards what's considered a "liberal" view tend to be more accepting of doubt, nuance, ambiguity, uncertainty, and change.
Those that align themselves with a more conservative view seem to be more certain, decided, binary (yes/no, black/white), and resistant to change.
But there is an entertaining discussion on "fact" - a lot of recent research and academic writing would suggest that "fact" is an ambiguous proposition in itself, and becomes more a matter of narrative. Some of the better philosophers and scientists of the last century tackled this issue.
But yeah, I'd say conservatives are more stringent on "facts," whereas a liberal would be more skeptical of those "facts." The scare-quote is important here.
Those that align themselves with a more conservative view seem to be more certain, decided, binary (yes/no, black/white), and resistant to change.
....
But yeah, I'd say conservatives are more stringent on "facts," whereas a liberal would be more skeptical of those "facts." The scare-quote is important here.
I like to think of it more as conservatives are more sure of their "binary" decisions and ideologies, which is many times mistakenly identified as "resistant to change", and are then skeptical of change just for change sake, or maybe recognize a proposed liberal change as something other than the stated purpose. Seeing through an ideology is what each side of the equation claim the ability to do.
I read the article yesterday in our local paper. First off, the sample size was very small, and not statistically projectable. Second, the difference in response wasn't so different to be statistically meaningful. Finally, the screening of the folks and their political attitude was self description, not an objective sorting of the participants.
I like to think of it more as conservatives are more sure of their "binary" decisions and ideologies, which is many times mistakenly identified as "resistant to change", and are then skeptical of change just for change sake, or maybe recognize a proposed liberal change as something other than the stated purpose. Seeing through an ideology is what each side of the equation claim the ability to do.
I read the article yesterday in our local paper. First off, the sample size was very small, and not statistically projectable. Second, the difference in response wasn't so different to be statistically meaningful. Finally, the screening of the folks and their political attitude was self description, not an objective sorting of the participants.
Typical garbage analysis.
Yeah, the posting was half tongue-in-cheek. I was hoping someone would call out the methodology of the study.
I've heard similar results from similar tests, though - I'm just interested in the connection between modes of thought and neurobiology; I find it a fascinating area of inquiry.
Yeah, the posting was half tongue-in-cheek. I was hoping someone would call out the methodology of the study.
I've heard similar results from similar tests, though - I'm just interested in the connection between modes of thought and neurobiology; I find it a fascinating area of inquiry.
I think any legitimate analysis, independently verifiable, on the subject of how we think is fascinating. The issue of genetics vs environment, and how we process to draw our conclusions and points of view are always insightful.
This was just junk, it never should have been published by the national media.
I'm not sure liberals and conservatives can even agree on what the definition of "information" is----let alone on how it should be "processed"...
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