Conservatives and Liberals Have Different Brains, Studies Show

[hue]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/09/03/conservatives-and-liberals-have-different-brains-studies-show/


By Sydney Lupkin
Sep 3, 2012 6:00am

Conservatives and liberals may have one less thing in common: neurology.

ProCon.org has gathered 13 peer-reviewed studies of behavioral and neurological studies and come to the conclusion that differences between Republicans and Democrats are more than skin-deep.

“Basically, the different sides have been yelling at each other for millennia, and we’re trying to figure out what could be the root cause of this,” said Steven Markoff, ProCon.org’s founder.

The studies looked at things like differences between groups’ perception of eye movement, and aversion to threatening noises. Researchers also noted that Democrats had larger anterior cingulate cortexes, which are associated with tolerance to uncertainty, while Republicans had larger right amygdalas, which are associated with sensitivity to fear.

“Everybody seems to basically agree, and these are people that have scientific backgrounds,” Markoff said of the repetition in the studies. “That to me is probably the biggest eye-opener.”

Although Markoff concluded the studies combine to mean that the different groups communicate in different ways, psychiatrist Greg Appelbaum said the studies point toward conservatives’ tendency to avoid something called self-harm, while liberals avoid collective group harm.

[Scuba]

1. Conservatives fear even the truth. Who knew?

[hue]

4. Not them---too much truth in that!!

Hi Scuba!!

[randr]

2. The old "fight or flight" conundrum in modern terms.

[Frustratedlady]

3. Look out! The Repugs may suddenly be in favor of stem-cell research on

how to "manufacture" Republicans.

Oh, yeah. That won't happen until they figure out what science is...

This study doesn't surprise me at all. The Repugs I know are very tight with the money, shocked when you do something nice for them and very suspicious. I have some close (very Repug) friends. If they are ill or have lost someone in the family, I always show up with homemade soup or casseroles. They are stunned, even though they know I do that as a matter of concern. If we go on a day trip, they never offer to help with expenses, pick up the lunch tab or even spend much money on themselves. I find this strange. They are definitely not hurting for money.

The Dems I know are generous, first at the door to help and share their money/belongings with family or friends if they are in need...willingly do so. They enjoy life, take chances and are curious about things/happenings around them. They continue to enrich their lives even after they have finished their education by enlarging their fields of interest, pursuing additional training and/or visiting museums, art displays and musical/dance productions. I would almost guess that Democrats would find more of their own people at these events.

Then again, I could be wrong.

[hue]

5. Yeah I think You're right--they'd love nothing but clones of themselves!!

See the difference You demonstrated above^^^ You're not afraid to say "I could be wrong."

Repubs are too insecure/fearful even for that!

[OnyxCollie]

7. Strangely enough,

liberals showed greater support for laws like the PATRIOT Act, with those feeling the least fear from being personally victimized by a terrorist act showing the greatest support.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=582516&mesg_id=582750

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

6. Sooooooooooo

we are born the way we are? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm...................

[mysuzuki2]

8. Conservatives have brains?

Who knew?

[tavalon]

9. Communitarian vs. individualism

[daybranch]

10. Wrong name.

We need to start using progressive because it indicates that we take action unlike conservatives who hide behind a false image of a wonderful past.