Political ideology is tied to how the brain manages conflict

[applegrove]

Left Brain Vs. Right Brains

Political ideology is tied to how the brain manages conflict

Scientific American Mind Magazine
December 2007/January 2008
www.SciAmMind.com

People who describe themselves as being politically liberal can better suppress a habitual response when faced with situations in which that response is incorrect, according to research that used a simple cognitive test to compare liberal and conservative thinkers. Tasks that require such "conflict monitoring" also triggered more activity in the liberals' anterior cingulate cortex, a brain region geared to detect and respond to conflicting information.

Past research has shown that liberals and conservatives exhibit differing cognitive styles, with liberals being more tolerant of ambiguity and conservatives preferring more structure. The new paper "is exciting because it suggests a specific mechanism" for that pattern, comments psychologist Will Cunningham of Ohio State University, who was not involved with the study. In the experiment, subjects saw a series of letters flash quickly on a screen and were told to press a button when they saw M, but not W. Because M appeared about 80 percent of the time, hitting the button became a reflex - and the more liberal-minded volunteers were better able to avoid the knee-jerk reaction.

The study's lead author, psychologist David Amodio of New York University, empasizes that the findings do not mean that political views are predetermined. "There are a lot of steps between conflict monitoring and political ideology, and we don't know what those steps are," he says. Although the neurocognitive process his group measured is so basic that it is most likely in place in early childhood, he notes that "the whole brain is very malleable." Social relationships and other environmental factors also shape one's political leanings.

- Siri Carpenter

[annabanana]

1. "most likely in place in early childhood" *~ I knew it!~*

TOILET TRAINING

[applegrove]

6. Conservatives definitely have issues. Perhaps it does go back to the toilet training.

Good catch.

[LaurenG]

2. Actually it sounds like the liberals were just paying better attention

:shrug: As usual.

[applegrove]

7. Paying attention to what is really going on rather that being led by fear.

Yes indeed.

[Kutjara]

3. So there's hope for a cure for conservatism?

That would truly be a wonder drug.

[Selatius]

4. Or a "final solution" for liberals, whoever manages to gain and hold power in government. n/t

[applegrove]

8. If what conservatives are doing is knee-jerking than perhaps the wonder drug

is for them to just grow up and think before they act/vote.

[Kucinich4America]

5. If I saw the letter "W" flash on the screen

My "knee jerk response" would be projectile vomiting :puke:

It sucks that the Chimp has ruined a perfectly harmless letter.

[applegrove]

9. ROTFLMAO! Perhaps they will have to redo the study since the word

"W" has been so sullied in Liberal circles.