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Forums - General Discussion - Difference Between Liberals and Conservatives

Political Views Are Reflected in Brain Structure

Individuals who call themselves liberal tend to have larger anterior cingulate cortexes, while those who call themselves conservative have larger amygdalas. Based on what is known about the functions of those two brain regions, the structural differences are consistent with reports showing a greater ability of liberals to cope with conflicting information and a greater ability of conservatives to recognize a threat, the researchers say.

"Previously, some psychological traits were known to be predictive of an individual's political orientation," said Ryota Kanai of the University College London. "Our study now links such personality traits with specific brain structure."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110407121337.htm



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What about if your bipartisan =X?



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ManusJustus said:

Political Views Are Reflected in Brain Structure

Individuals who call themselves liberal tend to have larger anterior cingulate cortexes, while those who call themselves conservative have larger amygdalas. Based on what is known about the functions of those two brain regions, the structural differences are consistent with reports showing a greater ability of liberals to cope with conflicting information and a greater ability of conservatives to recognize a threat, the researchers say.

"Previously, some psychological traits were known to be predictive of an individual's political orientation," said Ryota Kanai of the University College London. "Our study now links such personality traits with specific brain structure."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110407121337.htm


The amygdala also involves your ability to relate to others and understand what they want and need.

 

Kinda funny when you think about it.


What's interesting is if it's a cause or an effect type situation. 

 

It's not actually a new study though, this has been something that's been known for like 8 years or so.  Highywaystar posted smething on this not too long ago himself.

Though, he was more interested in the scientific aspects.



Liberals are more adaptable to change over time. More likely younger, a smoker, blue collar worker, little or no college education and a Democrat voter.

Conservatives are  less adaptable to change and believe in the status quo. More than likely older, white collar worker, college or post graduate college educated, not a smoker and a Republican voter.

Political ideologies also incorporate economic policies and social policies. Social liberals and social conservatives. Economic liberals and economic conservatives.

America has two main political parties that have their own factions and different belief/value systems. Liberal Democrats on the left. Conservative Republicans on the right.



dib8rman said:

What about if your bipartisan =X?



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In UK, there is no difference.



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This isn't as new study. Knew about this for years.



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Here's another one.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101209074403.htm

In a new study, UNL researchers measured both liberals' and conservatives' reaction to "gaze cues" -- a person's tendency to shift attention in a direction consistent with another person's eye movements, even if it's irrelevant to their current task -- and found big differences between the two groups.

Liberals responded strongly to the prompts, consistently moving their attention in the direction suggested to them by a face on a computer screen. Conservatives, on the other hand, did not.



"I don't understand how someone could like Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky, but not like Twilight!!!"

"Last book I read was Brokeback Mountain, I just don't have the patience for them unless it's softcore porn."

                                                                               (The Voice of a Generation and Seece)

"If you cant stand the sound of your own voice than dont become a singer !!!!!"

                                                                               (pizzahut451)

The difference is usually money and how pretentious you are.



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As Kasz already said, I posted this some time ago. It interesting though, because I found it extremely counter intuitive. The research would suggest that liberals are cold and clinical in decision making and conservatives would be more likely to be driven by emotion, which I think is the opposite of what we see.

The hypothetical scenario I mentioned in the last thread was that of a government funded art gallery. The conservative would be most likely to weigh out the benefits of the gallery against the cost; where as the liberal would be likely to support it or oppose it on a more emotional level (i.e. "You can't put a price on freedom of expression!").

I think that the research goes against what I would percieve as liberal and conservative qualities.

But then again, if I remember in the last thread Kasz did bring up a good point about how a conservative would be more likely to not support something like homosexual rights based on their emotions.