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Fear of death factors into how we vote (Voters preferred Kerry in 04, but OBL made them switch)
UPI ^ | Dec. 21

Posted on 02/08/2006 1:45:55 PM PST by presidio9

Rutgers University scientists say their research suggests some people voted for George W. Bush rather than John Kerry because of concerns about death.

Florette Cohen, a graduate student in social psychology and Daniel Ogilvie, a psychology professor, used research based on the 2004 presidential election. They found voters in a "psychologically benign state of mind" preferred Kerry to Bush, but Bush was more popular than Kerry after voters received a subtle reminder of death.

Citing an Osama bin Laden tape that became public a few days before the election, the researchers say many Americans' unconscious concerns about death resulted in some people being scared into voting for Bush.

The researchers collaborated with professors Sheldon Solomon of Skidmore College, Jeff Greenberg at the University of Arizona and Tom Pyszczynski at the University of Colorado.

The study appears in the journal Analyses of Social Issues and Public Policy.

Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: backoffimascientist; kerry; kerrydefeat; kerrylostgetoverit; waaaaaaaaaaaa
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To: presidio9

excuses

excuses

excuses

(s)
NOT MY FAULT!!!!! DEMOCRAT VICTIMOLOGY CONTROLS!!!! WHINE WHINE WHINE(/S)


41 posted on 02/08/2006 2:01:39 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: tx_eggman

I think you nailed it. Do you get paid for your "study" now?


42 posted on 02/08/2006 2:02:30 PM PST by DBrow
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To: presidio9
The researchers collaborated with professors Sheldon Solomon of Skidmore College, Jeff Greenberg at the University of Arizona and Tom Pyszczynski at the University of Colorado.

Hmmm...out west. Could be Seahawks fans...similar methodology.

43 posted on 02/08/2006 2:03:41 PM PST by who knows what evil? (New England...the Sodom and Gomorrah of the 21st Century, and they're proud of it!)
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To: presidio9

Yes... those who fear death vote Republican...

Those who embrace death vote Democrap.

Didn't need an expensive study to tell me that...


44 posted on 02/08/2006 2:04:21 PM PST by Philistone (Turning lead into gold...)
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To: presidio9

Even people who voted for Kerry did "prefer Kerry". They just hate Bush. They hate Bush because they believe lying moonbats like Michael Moore and Whoopi Golberg. And no, the moonbats are not the majority.


45 posted on 02/08/2006 2:06:56 PM PST by advance_copy (Stand for life, or nothing at all)
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To: presidio9
Come on people, they voted for Kerry, but their votes were counted for Bush. It was the voting machine --- machine --- machine.

OK -- stop laughing now ..

46 posted on 02/08/2006 2:09:22 PM PST by PetroniDE (We Don't Live in Texas Anymore --- State Name is Now TAXES !!)
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To: presidio9
What the H*** is a "psychologically benign state of mind"??

Could it be an euphemism for "brain-dead, foul-mouthed, commie and Islamic loving Democrats"?? I think so.

47 posted on 02/08/2006 2:09:28 PM PST by chesley (Liberals...what's not to loathe?)
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To: chesley
What the H*** is a "psychologically benign state of mind"??

It's a clinical term for being clueless.

48 posted on 02/08/2006 2:10:57 PM PST by dirtboy (I'm fat, I sleep most of the winter and I saw my shadow yesterday. Does that make me a groundhog?)
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To: presidio9
Right. OR perhaps the assumption made by the Leftist conducting this "Study" reflected their desire to rationalize their defeat rather then make a serious study of their own political ideological assumptions. See THEY can never admit their politics are wrong, YOU, the voter are always too stupid to see their brilliance. They trotted out this same sort of phycobabble rational in 1985 to rationalize why Reagan slaughtered Mondale at the polls. Then it was "People agreed with Mondale, they just liked Reagan better". It is amazing how the Left never evolves, just keeps trotting out the same old failed plays from the same old failed play book.
49 posted on 02/08/2006 2:13:36 PM PST by MNJohnnie ("Vote Democrat-We are the party of reactionary inertia".)
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To: presidio9
Well....Duh!
50 posted on 02/08/2006 2:14:43 PM PST by Cyber Liberty (© 2006, Ravin' Lunatic since 4/98)
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To: indcons

This means that we have to plant and cultivate the voters in "psychologically malicious state of mind" - i.e. curmudgeons and zotters.


51 posted on 02/08/2006 2:15:35 PM PST by GSlob
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To: presidio9

"Fear of death factors into how we vote (Voters preferred Kerry in 04, but OBL made them switch)"

I drive past this (New Brunswick Rutgers Campus) bastion of educational excellence every day on my way to work. I am not surprised how clueless they are. The also drive like A$$holes.


52 posted on 02/08/2006 2:18:00 PM PST by wmileo
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To: indcons
BWA HA HA HA HA HA!!

Yeah, yeah, the voters really wanted John 'effin Kerry....yeah, that's it.

Hey, hey, I've got an idea...let's get a lawsuit going in Florida. Maybe we can get the Florida Supreme Kangaroos to interpret the ballots marked for Bush as really meaning "Kerry".

On the other hand, this is a beautifully apt illustration as to the TRUTH that Democrats are weak on defense. People shouldn't trust Democrats with their national defense.

And I speak as a former 'rat myself. But now I'm a
Recovering_Democrat.

53 posted on 02/08/2006 2:18:16 PM PST by Recovering_Democrat ((I am SO glad to no longer be associated with the party of Dependence on Government!))
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To: dirtboy
It's a clinical term for being clueless.

"One hundred and eighty-four Rutgers university undergraduate students (114 females and 70 males) were randomly assigned to a mortality salient or TV salient control condition. Participants were recruited from a social psychology course."

Especially interesting is the concluding paragraph of the study:

The best antidote to this problem may be to monitor and take pains to resist any efforts by candidates to capitalize on fear-mongering. As David Myers (2004) so eloquently put it in an op-ed piece in the Los Angeles Times: "It is perfectly normal to fear purposeful violence from those who hate us. When terrorists strike again, we will all recoil in horror. But smart thinkers also will want to check their intuitive fears against the facts and to resist those who serve their own purposes by cultivating a culture of fear." As a culture, we should also work to teach our children and encourage our citizens to vote with their "heads" rather than their "hearts" as research (Simon et al., 1997) has demonstrated that mortality salience effects are attenuated when people are asked to think rationally. And it may also be helpful to raise awareness of how concerns about death affect human behavior. Hopefully, such measures will encourage people to make choices based on the political qualifications and positions of the candidates rather than on defensive needs to preserve psychological equanimity in response to reminders of mortality.

54 posted on 02/08/2006 2:18:33 PM PST by Freedom is eternally right
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To: presidio9
"Citing an Osama bin Laden tape that became public a few days before the election, the researchers say many Americans' unconscious concerns about death resulted in some people being scared into voting for Bush. "

Lets put this in proper perspective. The problem was not Bush, but all of these "some people" knew Kerry was a coward and would not offer any protection. It always amazes me how distorted these so call educated people think.
55 posted on 02/08/2006 2:19:28 PM PST by Logical me (Oh, well!!!)
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To: presidio9

So, in an America without death, John Kerry would have been elected President! So, the Democrats have to come out foursquare and the Pro-Life pary, and they'll have the next election sewn up!

Ooops! Wait a minute...


56 posted on 02/08/2006 2:20:17 PM PST by gridlock (eliminate perverse incentives)
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To: presidio9

LoL good thing Americans are not moslems.


57 posted on 02/08/2006 2:20:28 PM PST by justshutupandtakeit (Public Enemy #1, the RATmedia.)
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To: presidio9

Dear Rutgers,
Your reasearchers are full of 100% pure horse crap.
Sincerely,
All FReepers and people with common sense.


58 posted on 02/08/2006 2:21:06 PM PST by vpintheak (Liberal = The antithesis of Freedom and Patriotism)
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To: JaneAustin
Hopefully, such measures will encourage people to make choices based on the political qualifications and positions of the candidates rather than on defensive needs to preserve psychological equanimity in response to reminders of mortality.

Of course, this could be taken another way:

"Hopefully, more voters who wistfully long for the good old days of the Clinton years will, when they see bin Laden, recall that Slick was more interested in his golf game than in capturing bin Laden, and treated terrorism as a law enforcement problem, not a military one. And will make a rational decision to never vote for a nitwit liberal ever again."

59 posted on 02/08/2006 2:22:44 PM PST by dirtboy (I'm fat, I sleep most of the winter and I saw my shadow yesterday. Does that make me a groundhog?)
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To: presidio9

What about when people were given images of Viet Nam?


60 posted on 02/08/2006 2:23:05 PM PST by TravisBickle (The War on Terror: Win It There or Fight It Here)
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