The Psychology of Conservatism

[Egalitarian Zetetic]

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/07/22_politics.shtml
-------snip--------

Fear and aggression
Dogmatism and intolerance of ambiguity
Uncertainty avoidance
Need for cognitive closure
terror management



Concerns with fear and threat, likewise, can be linked to a second key dimension of conservatism - an endorsement of inequality, a view reflected in the Indian caste system, South African apartheid and the conservative, segregationist politics of the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-South S.C.).

Disparate conservatives share a resistance to change and acceptance of inequality, the authors said. Hitler, Mussolini, and former President Ronald Reagan were individuals, but all were right-wing conservatives because they preached a return to an idealized past and condoned inequality in some form. Talk host Rush Limbaugh can be described the same way, the authors commented in a published reply to the article.


As for conservatives' penchant for accepting inequality, he said, one contemporary example is liberals' general endorsement of extending rights and liberties to disadvantaged minorities such as gays and lesbians, compared to conservatives' opposing position.
The researchers said that conservative ideologies, like virtually all belief systems, develop in part because they satisfy some psychological needs, but that "does not mean that conservatism is pathological or that conservative beliefs are necessarily false, irrational, or unprincipled."

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Read the current issue of Harper's

for an article on the philosophy of Leo Strauss, who had a great influence on many of the neocons, especially the PNAC crowd.

The writer explains Strauss's philosophy in easily understood terms, and you'll find yourself nodding and thinking, "Of course!"

BTW, also read the article by the Canadian journalist who befriended members of the Iraqi resistance for a glimpse of how the U.S. forces look from the other side.

[Jade Fox]

2. Thanks. I've been looking for just such an article...

in an effort understand what makes conservatives tick, particularly in light
of the indefensability of George Bush.

[Egalitarian Zetetic]

4. Here is another link

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0%2C12271%2C1017546%2C00.html


---------snip-----------

A study funded by the US government has concluded that conservatism can be explained psychologically as a set of neuroses rooted in "fear and aggression, dogmatism and the intolerance of ambiguity".
As if that was not enough to get Republican blood boiling, the report's four authors linked Hitler, Mussolini, Ronald Reagan and the rightwing talkshow host, Rush Limbaugh, arguing they all suffered from the same affliction.

All of them "preached a return to an idealised past and condoned inequality".

Republicans are demanding to know why the psychologists behind the report, Political Conservatism as Motivated Social Cognition, received $1.2m in public funds for their research from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.


The authors also peer into the psyche of President George Bush, who turns out to be a textbook case. The telltale signs are his preference for moral certainty and frequently expressed dislike of nuance.

[Jade Fox]

14. thanks! n/t

[charlyvi]

3. Not Unprincipled?

How can denying civil rights to disadvantaged minorities not be unprincipled? Conservatives never believe that they themselves are one of the "disadvantaged minorities". They never quite believe that by denying rights to others, they are eventually denying rights to themselves. Their beliefs come back to bite them in the ass at some point in time. They believe that anyone can grow up to be president--the Horatio Alger myth--based on their own hard work. The irony is, progressives have to drag them, kicking and screaming, to incorporate the principles that would allow anyone to grow up and be president. It's a constant tension between the two ideologies.

[Jade Fox]

6. Actually, in recent years Conservatives have sucessfully co-opted...

liberal championing of minorities by presenting THEMSELVES as an
oppressed minority. They have suceeded in battering the press
into not telling too much of the truth if it makes Conservatives look bad
by their constant whining about "bias".

As always their method is: Condem the Liberals--then imitate them.

[charlyvi]

7. But not in the real sense...

of being economically or racially subjugated. They are saying conservatives are the MAJORITY of citizens whose views are not represented by a minority liberal elite. They think this elitism does not represent the majority of true Americans--conservatives. They're wrong, of course, but they have managed to couch the argument in those terms. As far as co-opting the our ideas, I agree. They do not realize, or don't care to realize, that Social Security, Medicare, Workers Comp, 40 hour work weeks, etc., are all part of our progressive legacy. Then again, many conservatives think these programs are wrong. Crazy, no?

[Jade Fox]

11. Yes, liberal-haters should have to live in a world without us. They'd all

be working 80 hr weeks and dying at 40 of black-lung type diseases
without health insurance or Social Security. They'd get lower wages
if a woman or non-white. They'd be getting thrown in jail without
knowing their rights and without legal counsel if they couldn't
afford a lawyer. (They'd just be strung up if Black) The US would be
constantly at war because there are so many countries out there
we need to invade in order to control our access to their resources
(sorry, I mean bring Democracy to). All music would consist
of Wayne Newton, Gene Simmons, and Wynona Judd. All
movies would be Crusafication fetish films, or creep-fests by Republican
film-maker David Lynch staring Lara Flynn Boyle and Bruce Willis.
TV would be Fox News and reality shows 24/7. The only comedy would
Dennis Miller and Ben Stein.

Maybe they can all move to Texas, secede, and create this Paradise!
(Sorry, Texas DUers!)

[TN al]

5. And here I thought conservative philosophy was rooted in the quote...

..."I've got mine so you can go to hell! OH, and stay away from my daughter!"

Wait a moment. Did I just paraphrase you?

[undergroundpanther]

10. Conservatives

If you peel back the rationalizations,explanations and analysis

Conservatives are bullies,narcissists and socialized sociopaths .If you observe when a bully gets caught and is exposed and realize they can't do what they want to others and will be accountable for their choices,words or actions that,abuse exploit,incite other bullies and pick on "weaker"people,they cry as if they are the victim.
A victim because they can't get away with victimizing others.

Conservative,Right wing.. is the BULLY party.
Either you are a bully or you are not a bully.

For too long society in general,the non-bullies has given power to,embraced or endorsed the immorality and selfishness of the vain ,manipulating,sadistic,over-ambitious,domineering,controlling,
over-confident, emotionally insensitive bully.
And the Non-bullies have failed to put a strong moral /social pressure /culturally condemning leash upon them instead we let them run the country and dominate politics,homes schools institutions,business..
It begins with the lie,adults say when abuse happens in school "boys will be boys.",It's fine until Torture is called a prank by Rush a bully on the media.Men acting like bullies have the emotional maturity and sensitivity of a very selfish 2 year old.

Boys don't have to be bullies to be real men you know.

[mzmolly]

8. Thank YOU. I've been looking for this, I saw it some time ago.

And will send it out to all my R friends :evilgrin:

[opihimoimoi]

9. The Conservatives have been comp'd by a very Negative Force

rooted in all the things described up front. Its a cancer. When what is GOOD is rejected for what is BAD, we are in deep DOO.

[Jim Warren]

12. The modern conservative

The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.

John Kenneth Galbraith

[mike1963]

13. and the modern "neoconservative" is engaged in the world's oldest

profession, but with a twist: they are both the whores and the pimps.