Posted on 04/19/2015 2:18:58 PM PDT by null and void
With a presidential election on the horizon, maybe we should try to figure out what makes each side of the political aisle tick. Knowing what someone else cares about, instead of just lobbing insults on message boards, can sometimes help you land on something close to understanding.
A social psychologist named Jonathan Haidt has spent the bulk of his career trying to figure out what motivates both conservatives and liberals. He’s uncovered some interesting points, which have been published in a book called “The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion.”
According to Haidt’s research, there are five things people care about:
1. avoidance of harm
2. fairness
3. loyalty
4. authority
5. sanctity
Conservatives care about all five in equal measure and liberals care about only the first two. Here is a quote from the book, as transcribed by The American Conservative:
“It’s as though conservatives can hear five octaves of music, but liberals respond to just two, within which they have become particularly discerning.”
There is also a sixth term, which both sides care about in equal measure: liberty. However, conservatives and liberals see the word as meaning two completely different things, according to the author.
Conservatives tend to view liberty as the notion of being left alone to pursue happiness in whatever way they choose. Liberals tend to view it as the act of creating a level playing field for society’s most vulnerable individuals.
There have been dozens of studies that produced similar findings, concluding that conservatives and liberals are different, even apart from their political leanings.
A scientist named John Jost recently published a paper on the subject:
“There is by now evidence from a variety of laboratories around the world using a variety of methodological techniques leading to the virtually inescapable conclusion that the cognitive-motivational styles of leftists and rightists are quite different.”It’s not all bad, according to Haidt’s research; people on both sides of the political spectrum like their dogs to be clean. We aren’t so different, after all.
Also notice that the author removes "liberty" because the two sides have different definitions, but doesn't remove fairness for the same reason. If you didn't work and you went hungry would seem fair to me. I'm sure that wouldn't fit under the libs' definition of fairness.
one has brains, the other just Aholes?
The liberal definition of ‘liberty’ is really just their version of ‘fairness’. So there are six categories and liberals care only about the first two.
My nephew loves me to death but has told me in no uncertain terms that people who use a racial slur or have animosity towards a certain group are ignorant. He lives in lily white new jersey neighborhood. I asked him if he had been robbed, had a knife, gun and bat pulled on him, seen drug transactions involved the trading of food stamps, all by Obama’s sons, like I have seen in my cab when I drove, would he feel the same. He said nothing. My niece was like hi until she started working at a water park frequented by Obama’s sons and daughters.
Where are “envy,” “jealousy,” and “vindictiveness,” the hallmarks of a Leftist’s world view? They are failures in many areas of life, but always find someone else to blame.
I can’t find a common denominator among my liberal/dem friends, however, EVERY SINGLE ONE of my narcissistic acquaintances are far left.
Liberty is defined by God. Is not a morally relative term. Libs confuse liberty with license.
Liberalism is a genetic birth defect.
Researchers find a ‘liberal gene’
Date:October 28, 2010
Source:University of California, San Diego
Summary: Liberals may owe their political outlook partly to their genetic make-up, according to new research. Ideology is affected not just by social factors, but also by a dopamine receptor gene called DRD4. The study’s authors say this is the first research to identify a specific gene that predisposes people to certain political views.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101027161452.htm
Funny thing, THEY don't think they are envious, jealous or vindictive.
Haight has a talk at Tedtalk.
It is also here at Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs41JrnGaxc
He is a liberal, but he has researched this all over the world in all different societies.
It holds up across all societies and demographics.
If you ever want to convince a liberal of anything I suggest you watch it.
The political LEFT places on the LEFT side of the Bell Curve.
study must have been before the Obama years
IMO, they are low authority when they are out of power, but they are fascists when they are in power.
It reminds me of when ValJar talked about "speaking truth to power" even though the Dems controlled the presidency and both houses of Congress. It's like they didn't realize that they were the ones in power.
Have barf bag handy.
Leftists are only against authority if you are in authority.
They are congenital authoritarians.
I noticed a long time ago that “anarchists” were not against government; they are only against you governing yourself. They are leftists who are too hip to call themselves communists, but don’t mind doing the communist’s dirty work.
Their definition of liberty requires an authoritarian state to achieve. For me, liberty is freedom to pursue my life projects and live according to my conscience; to them, liberty is freedom from life’s vicissitudes. We require a referee to settle disputes between otherwise well-meaning people; they require a king.
“by a dopamine receptor gene “
That’s a misprint! I should read; “by a dope receptor gene.”
I define a liberal as a person of low moral values. Root word is “lie.”
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