People who describe themselves as being politically liberal can better suppress a habitual response when faced with situations in which that response is incorrect, according to research that used a simple cognitive test to compare liberal and conservative thinkers. Tasks that require such “conflict monitoring” also triggered more activity in the liberals’ anterior cingulate cortex, a brain region geared to detect and respond to conflicting information.
Past research has shown that liberals and conservatives exhibit differing cognitive styles, with liberals being more tolerant of ambiguity and conservatives preferring more structure. The new paper “is exciting because it suggests a specific mechanism” for that pattern, comments psychologist Wil Cunningham of Ohio State University, who was not involved with the study. In the experiment, subjects saw a series of letters flash quickly on a screen and were told to press a button when they saw M, but not W. Because M appeared about 80 percent of the time, hitting the button became a reflex—and the more liberal-minded volunteers were better able to avoid the knee-jerk reaction.
The study’s lead author, psychologist David Amodio of New York University, emphasizes that the findings do not mean that political views are predetermined. “There are a lot of steps between conflict monitoring and political ideology, and we don’t know what those steps are,” he says. Although the neurocognitive process his group measured is so basic that it is most likely in place in early childhood, he notes that “the whole brain is very malleable.” Social relationships and other environmental factors also shape one’s political leanings.
This article was originally published with the title Left Brains vs. Right Brains.
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8 Comments
Add CommentOK, but how was the political leaning determined? Was it according to the subject's ratings, political affiliation, views on issues and if so, how were they defined? I'm very wary of accepting the findings.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"Social relationÂships and other environmental factors also shape ones political leanings." I would say those factors MOSTLY shape one's political leanings. Has psychology really degenerated so far?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe liberal is developed by environment, circumstance and learning experience. The liberal is also influenced by faith and believe.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thispantpis@yahoo.com
Ernest Becker described how the adoption of all ideology is tied to the amount of relief the belief provides against an unconscious anxiety of death or a life with significance. His Pulitzer Prize winning book, "Denial of Death" is a under appreciated brilliance. He follows up with the equally revelatory power of "Escape from Evil". What is more is that social psychologists are now empirically testing his theories and finding them aligning with reality. Look up "terror management theory"
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis article trigger a lot of questions from me. Firstly,the subject is so complex that the past and present research should be included in the article. I believe intolerance comes from ignorance or inability to fully understand. This is where proportionate intelligence is required. If memory serves me well, one side of the brain works globally or intuitively while the other works in details or analytically. Of course it is not a complete descriptions of our brain sides. But for the purpose of discussion it is important to keep it simple. Tolerance arises from a suppose possession of knowledge which may valid or not. Again proportionate intelligence is required. Those on intolerant view may be categorized either stupid or conservative. Those on tolerant view may be called a fool or liberal. One is on guard against unprobable change while the other is open to reasonable change. It is like looking at a glass either half empty or half full. I believe this is what you as their cognitive sty
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis is interesting. My only criticism is that the ACC does not only respond to conflicting information. It is one of the executive functioning areas so it also deals with processing of emotions, decision making, reward anticipation, and is often overly activated in the brains of drug addicts during craving states. The activation in that area could have meant a number of things about liberals.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThat's all I will say since I think this research is favorable for us left-wingers :-D
I think there is some inherent bias in this study. Over the past 8 years, this letter has become synonymous with the current president. The letter "W" has become such a "hot button" among some individuals that volunteers with a liberal bias would have a more negative response toward the letter. This would bias the results. Perhaps lowercase letters "b" and "d" would be better for a confirmation of the findings.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisNice way of putting it.
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