Different brain characteristics determine political allegiances

mlt11 · 28/12/10 - 23:07

See link below.

I know it's in the Daily Mail but it's not a "typical" Daily Mail article.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1342239/Brain-study-reveals-right-wing-conservatives-larger-primitive-amygdala.html

psionic · 28/12/10 - 23:16

Isn't this the sort of psuedo-science that bigots and fascists used to use to justify their bigotry?

Mind you, after reading some of the more hawkish views in certain threads here the last couple of days, who knows, perhaps über-Conservatism is a mental disorder?

jim_uk · 28/12/10 - 23:35

The BBC had this as well, not just the Daily Hitler. I think the most shocking revelation was the fact that there are two MPs with brains.

TimCypher · 29/12/10 - 00:13

jim_uk wrote: »

I think the most shocking revelation was the fact that there are two MPs with brains.

Which was the lucky party?

Regards,

Cypher

gummy mummy · 29/12/10 - 00:26

So how does that explain people changing from one party to another, do they have a brain wave

[Deleted User] · 29/12/10 - 00:48

If this research shows Lib Dems to be the brainest / most balanced / simply gorgeous then I'll believe it!

Seriously though - I don't think we understand the workings of the brain yet to be able to make this sort of claim.

tysonstorm · 29/12/10 - 09:22

Scans of 90 students’ brains at University College London

Which pretty much means we can disregard the study. Perhaps when they decide to scan the brains of people out in the real world with real life experiences then perhaps we may just get a better idea.

Personally I don't give a monkey's about people's brain sizes etc, everyone has been shaped over the years by their own experiences and real life events which has helped form their political stance.

Next week Nick Griffin publishes a study that "proves" that Lefties are thick and Righties are Intellectual Behemoths. :rolleyes:

Judge Mental · 29/12/10 - 09:23

So 'Clegg needs his head tested'?

No suprise there then.

Annsyre · 29/12/10 - 09:27

mlt11 wrote: »

See link below.

I know it's in the Daily Mail but it's not a "typical" Daily Mail article.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1342239/Brain-study-reveals-right-wing-conservatives-larger-primitive-amygdala.html

A very misleading thread title - there is absolutely no evidence at all which proves anything.

The article says -

"Our political allegiances could be hard-wired into our brains"

Not definite, no evidence, just a vague idea with no scientific proof at all.

PoliticoRN · 29/12/10 - 09:39

Would this study have been published had it shown that leftist politics was determined by a "primitive" part of the brain.

Since when was emotion primitive?
Emotion is largely what separates us from the animals; if that's primitive I'm glad to be so.

Empathy is an emotion, without it we would all be a lot of trouble.

I know its in The Mail, but it really is a showcase piece that concisely demonstrates the leftist bias in academic sciences.

Next time Labour are in power (Gods preserve us) expect them to use this study to have anyone who will not vote labour declared mentally ill - then we'll see where the real fascists are - where they have always been, firmly ensconced on the left field of politics.

raidon04 · 29/12/10 - 09:39

Annsyre wrote: »

A very misleading thread title - there is absolutely no evidence at all which proves anything.

The article says -

"Our political allegiances could be hard-wired into our brains"

Not definite, no evidence, just a vague idea with no scientific proof at all.

Actually there is copious scientific proof, but the Daily Mail inferred that it's merely a theory to avoid causing a backlash from it's right-winged readers.

Annsyre · 29/12/10 - 09:42

raidon04 wrote: »

Actually there is copious scientific proof, but the Daily Mail inferred that it's merely a theory to avoid causing a backlash from it's right-winged readers.

Please provide a link to the copious scientific proof.:)

This was a light hearted study of 90 people

"The research was carried out by Geraint Rees director of the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience who said he was 'very surprised' by the finding, which is being peer reviewed before publication next year.

It was commissioned as a light-hearted experiment by actor Colin Firth as part of his turn guest editing BBC Radio 4's Today programme but has now developed into a serious effort to discover whether we are programmed with a particular political view."

It has had no peer review and as far as I can tell provides no irrefutable scientific proof.

GreatGodPan · 29/12/10 - 09:52

PoliticoRN wrote: »

Would this study have been published had it shown that leftist politics was determined by a "primitive" part of the brain.

Since when was emotion primitive?
Emotion is largely what separates us from the animals; if that's primitive I'm glad to be so.

Empathy is an emotion, without it we would all be a lot of trouble.

I know its in The Mail, but it really is a showcase piece that concisely demonstrates the leftist bias in academic sciences.

Next time Labour are in power (Gods preserve us) expect them to use this study to have anyone who will not vote labour declared mentally ill - then we'll see where the real fascists are - where they have always been, firmly ensconced on the left field of politics.[/QUOTE]

That rules Labour out, then.

raidon04 · 29/12/10 - 10:54

Annsyre wrote: »

Please provide a link to the copious scientific proof.:)

This was a light hearted study of 90 people

"The research was carried out by Geraint Rees director of the UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience who said he was 'very surprised' by the finding, which is being peer reviewed before publication next year.

It was commissioned as a light-hearted experiment by actor Colin Firth as part of his turn guest editing BBC Radio 4's Today programme but has now developed into a serious effort to discover whether we are programmed with a particular political view."

It has had no peer review and as far as I can tell provides no irrefutable scientific proof.

Smithers, A. G., & Lobley, D. M. (1978). Dogmatism, social attitudes and personality. British Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology, 17, 135-142.
etlock, P. E. (1984). Cognitive style and political belief systems in the British House of Commons. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 365-375.
Stone, W. F., & Smith, L. D. (1993). Authoritarianism: Left and right. In W. F. Stone, G. Lederer, & R. Christie (Eds.). Strengths and weaknesses: The authoritarian personality today. New York: Springer-Verlag
McFarland, S., Ageyev, V., & Abalakina, M. (1993). The authoritarian personality in the United States and the former Soviet Union: Comparative studies. In W. F. Stone, G. Lederer, & R. Christie (Eds.). Strengths and weaknesses: The authoritarian personality today. New York: Springer-Verlag.
To name but a few

jmclaugh · 29/12/10 - 11:21

Blimey, shock, horror, give scientists some money to investigate something and guess what they come up with something.

As for Colin Firth he must surely be taking the proverbial with this quote. 'I just decided to find out what was biologically wrong with people who don't agree with me and see what scientists had to say about it and they actually came up with something.'

Annsyre · 29/12/10 - 11:22

raidon04 wrote: »

Smithers, A. G., & Lobley, D. M. (1978). Dogmatism, social attitudes and personality. British Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology, 17, 135-142.
etlock, P. E. (1984). Cognitive style and political belief systems in the British House of Commons. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 365-375.
Stone, W. F., & Smith, L. D. (1993). Authoritarianism: Left and right. In W. F. Stone, G. Lederer, & R. Christie (Eds.). Strengths and weaknesses: The authoritarian personality today. New York: Springer-Verlag
McFarland, S., Ageyev, V., & Abalakina, M. (1993). The authoritarian personality in the United States and the former Soviet Union: Comparative studies. In W. F. Stone, G. Lederer, & R. Christie (Eds.). Strengths and weaknesses: The authoritarian personality today. New York: Springer-Verlag.
To name but a few

Thank you.:)

[Deleted User] · 29/12/10 - 11:27

jmclaugh wrote: »

As for Colin Firth he must surely be taking the proverbial with this quote. 'I just decided to find out what was biologically wrong with people who don't agree with me and see what scientists had to say about it and they actually came up with something.'

yeah his choice of words there is a bit Nazi tbh - he should have said "biologically different"......

jmclaugh · 29/12/10 - 11:28

RacerWelsh wrote: »

yeah his choice of words there is a bit Nazi tbh - he should have said "biologically different"......

He obviously needs a spin doctor.

elfcurry · 29/12/10 - 11:59

jmclaugh wrote: »

As for Colin Firth he must surely be taking the proverbial with this quote. 'I just decided to find out what was biologically wrong with people who don't agree with me and see what scientists had to say about it and they actually came up with something.'

Did you listen to him? He was being funny.

jmclaugh · 29/12/10 - 12:03

elfcurry wrote: »

Did you listen to him?
Have you heard of humour?

I did say he was surely taking the proverbial. In any case why would I be interested in listening to him?

elfcurry · 29/12/10 - 12:05

Sorry, just changed it.

[Deleted User] · 29/12/10 - 23:53

Perhaps more than we have Americans have some classic debates polarising liberals vs either libertarians or conservatives (they ought to have 3 political parties imo).

Anyway you have abortion, gay marriage, gays in the military, and you have... affirmative action. Here through a nice little animation is affirmative action explained, pro and con. Looks like two different brains at work to me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWS_MDJSiEE

Hey there!

Quick Links

Different brain characteristics determine political allegiances

Comments