BBC: Political views 'all in the mind'

[inanna]

Source: BBC

Scientists studying voters in the US say our political views may be an integral part of our physical makeup.

Their research, published in the journal Science, indicates that people who are sensitive to fear or threat are likely to support a right wing agenda.

Those who perceived less danger in a series of images and sounds were more inclined to support liberal policies.

<snip>

They found that subjects who were more easily startled tended to have political views that would be classified as more right wing, being more in favour of capital punishment and higher defence spending, but opposed to abortion rights.


Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7623256.stm

[amitten]

1. See? The Dems really are more brave. I always felt that. n/t

[Venceremos]

2. Interesting

but inaccurate, at least in my case. I startle very easily but I abhor capital punishment and am against higher defense spending (except to increase pay/benefits for the military and vets).

[Mojorabbit]

3. Same here in that their description is

inaccurate for me. I am liberal as they come but major pro second amendment.

[harry_pothead]

4. .

So the fearmongering works best on those most predisposed to fearmongering. I'm shocked.

[FarrenH]

5. I've seen this inference from similar studies before

and must say that I think the reasoning is wrong. Its equally possible that people are more sensitive to fear because they have adopted a right-wing world view, and actively bought into the fearful perspective that accompanies that.

Most likely its some combination of innate disposition and learned habits. This smacks slightly of the kind of "just so" stories that frequently emerge from evo-psych.

I have 2 friends I can think of who are both excessively anxious and cautious about things, both of whom I'd describe as left-leaning. I have noticed that they generally tack towards the right-wing view when encountering a topic for the first time, but generally drift to the left as their understanding of the topic increases.