Conservatives Big on Fear, Brain Study Finds

[tytlyf]

Interesting findings. Seems these research studies continue proving themselves correct. I see this in the comments here and elsewhere.

Peering inside the brain with MRI scans, researchers at University College London found that self-described conservative students had a larger amygdala than liberals. The amygdala is an almond-shaped structure deep in the brain that is active during states of fear and anxiety. Liberals had more gray matter at least in the anterior cingulate cortex, a region of the brain that helps people cope with complexity.

Most societies are divided into a party that wants change (the more liberal party) and one that is afraid of change (the conservatives). The liberal party is generally more intellectual and the conservative party is more anti-intellectual.
The conservative party is big on national defense and magnifies our perception of threat, whether of foreign aggressors, immigrants, terrorists, or invading ideologies like Communism. To a conservative, the world really is a frightening place.
Given that their brains are so different, it is hardly surprising that liberals and conservatives should spend so much time talking across each other and never achieving real dialog or consensus.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-beast/201104/conservatives-big-fear-brain-study-finds

 

[Revoltingest]

Before you chortle about liberals being superior to conservatives, I have some questions:
- Is the article real? I noticed that Colin Firth is one of the authors. Is this the fella from The King's Speech?
- Since they look to be Brits, they might be using different definitions of "con" & "lib" from you Yanks. How did they define each?

 

[tytlyf]

Before you chortle about liberals being superior to conservatives, I have some questions:
- Is the article real? I noticed that Colin Firth is one of the authors. Is this the fella from The King's Speech?
- Since they look to be Brits, they might be using different definitions of "con" & "lib" from you Yanks. How did they define each?

You didn't read the article.

 

[sandandfoam]

Neurobollocks

The Neurocritic: Journomarketing of Neurobollocks

 

[Revoltingest]

You didn't read the article.

Correct!
My request for up front info looked useful.

Neurobollocks

I considered majoring in that in college.

 

[Father Heathen]

I'm a social liberal and fiscal conservative who favors social programs that focus on transitional recovery rather than perpetuate stagnant dependency, who is pro science, pro separation of church and state, pro freedom of speech and anti-censorship, pro gay and gender equality, pro choice, pro legalization, regulation and taxation of victimless crimes such as cannabis use and prostitution, and also pro the right to bear arms. Does this mean I have a nice, beefy well-rounded brain?

 

[Revoltingest]

I'm a social liberal and fiscal conservative who favors social programs that focus on transitional recovery rather than perpetuate stagnant dependency, who is pro science, pro separation of church and state, pro freedom of speech and anti-censorship, pro gay and gender equality, pro choice, pro legalization, regulation and taxation of victimless crimes such as cannabis use and prostitution, and also pro the right to bear arms. Does this mean I have a nice, beefy well-rounded brain?

Yes, but you're evil.

 

[Father Heathen]

Yes, but you're evil.

Eh, I can live with that.

 

[WyattDerp]

Most societies are divided into a party that wants change (the more liberal party) and one that is afraid of change (the conservatives).

Actually, societies are divided into people who divide people into groups based on words that lost their meaning ages ago (hacks), and people who don't (me and björk).

 

[tytlyf]

Correct!
My request for up front info looked useful.

I see no reference to Colin Firth.
The studies are real.
The previous studies were conducted in the US.

EDIT: Colin Firth appears to be one of the authors of the study here
Colin Firth appears to be associated with the BBC

http://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(11)00289-2#

 

[tytlyf]

- Is the article real? I noticed that Colin Firth is one of the authors. Is this the fella from The King's Speech?

It appears to be.
BBC News - Colin Firth credited in brain research

 

[tytlyf]

Neurobollocks

The Neurocritic: Journomarketing of Neurobollocks

You just confirmed the study.

 

[sandandfoam]

You just confirmed the study.

ROFL - and an image of my brain confirming your conclusion would also be neurobollocks

 

[WyattDerp]

You just confirmed the study.

That "study" is so weak, a firetruck going by could prove or disprove it, depending on what you want to think.

 

[tytlyf]

That "study" is so weak, a firetruck going by could prove or disprove it, depending on what you want to think.

Saying it is is different than proving it is. Prove it.

The study just backs up previous studies that show people who claim to be conservative are more fearful. I see it all day long, this just backs it up.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

Interesting findings. Seems these research studies continue proving themselves correct. I see this in the comments here and elsewhere.
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-beast/201104/conservatives-big-fear-brain-study-finds

Actually I find this part of the article:

Given that their brains are so different, it is hardly surprising that liberals and conservatives should spend so much time talking across each other and never achieving real dialog or consensus.

I find that to be potentially dangerous as it seems to be justifying all the bickering and petty quaralling that has prevented anything from getting done. My brain very different from someone with schizophrenia, yet I have often associated with and have gotten along with people with schizophrenia. Male and female brains also look different, but men and women are more than capable of getting along and having meaningful discussions. Even political parties of the past have been able to get over their differences (at certain points in time) and work towards a solution.
As for these "studies" to demonstrate "liberal superiority" I find them all the be very pathetic because while they are studying and looking for things that really don't matter, they could be looking into a solution rather than pointing fingers and demonizing. And of course, which this is probably the biggest point the article (and other anti-Conservative "studies" I have seen) misses, is that there are different types of Conservatives who are all motivated by different things. Sure some of them are afraid of their own shadow, and are terrified with even the slightest homoerotic though, but there are and have been plenty of Conservatives who are not driven by fear.

Yes, but you're evil.

I can't recall their name, but I would think given the "study" that Conservatives who are filled with hate and fear would fair much better against them than the peaceful and loving Liberals who would fall into their mind games and traps with ease.

 

[Alceste]

Saying it is is different than proving it is. Prove it.

The study just backs up previous studies that show people who claim to be conservative are more fearful. I see it all day long, this just backs it up.

Yeah, it reminds me of the ramp-up to the Iraq war. The most conservative folks I knew thought Canada should join in. Their "reasoning" usually went something like "Do you want Saddam Hussein to stop a nuclear bomb in the middle of Calgary!?!?"

 

[tytlyf]

Actually I find this part of the article:

I find that to be potentially dangerous as it seems to be justifying all the bickering and petty quaralling that has prevented anything from getting done. My brain very different from someone with schizophrenia, yet I have often associated with and have gotten along with people with schizophrenia. Male and female brains also look different, but men and women are more than capable of getting along and having meaningful discussions. Even political parties of the past have been able to get over their differences (at certain points in time) and work towards a solution.
As for these "studies" to demonstrate "liberal superiority" I find them all the be very pathetic because while they are studying and looking for things that really don't matter, they could be looking into a solution rather than pointing fingers and demonizing. And of course, which this is probably the biggest point the article (and other anti-Conservative "studies" I have seen) misses, is that there are different types of Conservatives who are all motivated by different things. Sure some of them are afraid of their own shadow, and are terrified with even the slightest homoerotic though, but there are and have been plenty of Conservatives who are not driven by fear.

I can't recall their name, but I would think given the "study" that Conservatives who are filled with hate and fear would fair much better against them than the peaceful and loving Liberals who would fall into their mind games and traps with ease.

So a brain study which has been done over the years is somehow a liberal conspiracy to prove how conservatives are filled with hate and fear?
Interesting conclusion from a science study. You people take things wayyyy too far.
The study just shows that conservatives are more fearful. That's IT. I agree, they are more fearful and paranoid. I think the conservatives that watch right-wing media have an even larger amygdala !

 

[Shadow Wolf]

So a brain study which has been done over the years is somehow a liberal conspiracy to prove how conservatives are filled with hate and fear?
Interesting conclusion from a science study. You people take things wayyyy too far.
The study just shows that conservatives are more fearful. That's IT. I agree, they are more fearful and paranoid. I think the conservatives that watch right-wing media have an even larger amygdala !

Science should not be used to belittle another, and what I was really addressing was the part of the article saying it's no wonder our politicians are big babies who don't know how to get along. Which is where I call foul, because it is a false conclusion given the obvious, which is that PLENTY of people with different, and even radically different, brain shapes and structures still get along, still have strong communications, and can still compromise. I am also addressing the flaw in lumping all Conservatives together, which is just as flawed as lumping all Liberals or all Moderates together.
Or instead of looking at modern brain scans, it's already known that human beings tend to gravitate towards social order and hierarchy, which are traits that are more typical for Conservatives than Liberals. It could just as easily be said the Liberals are against the natural order, because even Chimpanzee and Bonobos are socially structured and have social hierarchy.
Lies, damn lies, and statistics.

 

[WyattDerp]

Saying it is is different than proving it is. Prove it.

The study just backs up previous studies that show people who claim to be conservative are more fearful. I see it all day long, this just backs it up.

Dude, they DEFINE conservatives as people who are "afraid of change".

So you see, right there..