TED: An Actual Physical Difference Between Liberals and Conservatives

By Daniel Miessler on September 22nd, 2008: Tagged as Politics | Science

Roughly 20 people have emailed me about this TED video. I actually blogged about this research around six months ago when the study first came out, but the stuff available then in no way compares to a TED presentation.

Really interesting stuff.





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1 Comment »

  1. “If you think that half of America voted Republican because they are blinded in this way [Religion or Ignorance] then my message to you is that you are trapped in this moral matrix.” This isn’t to say that there are not people blinded by religion and ignorance that lead them to vote Republican, but how many people could that really be? 50% of America? So what are the reasons that people would vote Republican? I would say: - possible distrust of liberal elitism (the attacks on Palin’s “trashy” image exemplify this. Obama is above making those attacks but he is still hurt by association to many of his followers that do) - pro-capitalist, anti-socialist economic views (this is not to accuse that democrats are socialists, only that many democratic economic solutions are usually changes FROM free-market capitalism) - fear that a liberal president will make the country weaker in the face of terrorism or other threats (obviously not a realistic fear, but a perception problem for democrats) - because their parents/friends/co-workers are republican (not a very good reason) - and others that I can’t think of….

    What to do: Take those 5 morals in the video, particularly the last three that conservatives favor much higher than liberals and show how Obama still holds those values. Also, I would say that building up Obama works way better than attacking McCain. Attacks make people defensive, not open to new ideas.

    1) Harm/care, related to our long evolution as mammals with attachment systems and an ability to feel (and dislike) the pain of others. This foundation underlies virtues of kindness, gentleness, and nurturance. 2) Fairness/reciprocity, related to the evolutionary process of reciprocal altruism. This foundation generates ideas of justice, rights, and autonomy. 3) Ingroup/loyalty, related to our long history as tribal creatures able to form shifting coalitions. This foundation underlies virtues of patriotism and self-sacrifice for the group. It is active anytime people feel that it’s “one for all, and all for one.” 4) Authority/respect, shaped by our long primate history of hierarchical social interactions. This foundation underlies virtues of leadership and followership, including deference to legitimate authority and respect for traditions. 5) Purity/sanctity, shaped by the psychology of disgust and contamination. This foundation underlies religious notions of striving to live in an elevated, less carnal, more noble way. It underlies the widespread idea that the body is a temple which can be desecrated by immoral activities and contaminants (an idea not unique to religious traditions).

    Comment by shane — 9/24/2008 @ 7:39 pm

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