Are the brains of liberals and conservatives simply wired differently?

No one has any real evidence of a difference in "hardwiring" between liberals and conservatives, particularly in the region of the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex, which is a very small portion. Moreover, studies showing how people USE their brains differently do not provide evidence that our brains are automatically "hardwired" differently.

In short, the article "Homo politicus: brain function of liberals, conservatives differs" is fostering not only a stark overgeneralization of how biology and human behavior are related, researchers themselves report findings that are mere correlational in terms of statistical analysis and methodological design as if some underlying cause and effect relationship exists when there is no such evidence.

Please check the link below for a thorough answer regarding what I think about the article, "Homo politicus: brain function of liberals, conservatives differs"

http://biodeterminism.blogspot.com/2007/09/politic...

Thanks.

Yeah right. I grew up in several different regions of the country. So I heard far more different ideas then the average kid growing up. I've been in Liberally Whacko San Francisco, Conservative Florida, Liberal Hawaii, Conservative San Diego, the North Midwest, Insanely Liberal Northern California. The more I grew up the more I saw, the more Conservative I became. And let me tell you the liberals at Humboldt State University were far from more analytical than I was. I think the difference is in emotion, liberals are much more emotional, if you listen to their discussions it's always, "I feel that..." on the other hand it'se Conservatives who are more analytical, "I think that..." From my experience, Liberals, I do not believe, are more able to cope with ambiguity and conflict, because more often than not they retreat in the face of hardships such as conflict.

I think it would come from experience. I had to work for everything as a kid, be it chores for money, heck, I even had to work harder in sports, because I was not necessarily the most gifted athletically, but to play I had to work harder then the better athletes... I played. Most of the Liberals I know, friends of mine, didn't have to work much growing up, they were pampered, given whatever they wanted. Even going away to college, they expected it. Now out of college they look to the Government to take care of them when things get tight.

I also fail to see the connection between reacting to a "W" and an "M" and Political Beliefs. Also, college age students are much more likely to be liberal than conservatives, so the study is probably overwhelmingly disproportionate, or has too few subjects to be significant. It's really grasping at straws here. Just another hit piece from the liberal media.

Who said Colbert was Conservative? Everyone I know, Liberal and Conservative saw right through his act.

How exaclty does reacting to a W and an M show anything about reaction to conflict. To me it's more reaction to visual stimuli, which doesn't involve critical thinking at all.

I have a feeling I know the political affiliation of the person who conducted that study, but that aside I think they are definitely thinking on two different spheres.

To conservatives the whole purpose of government is to build roads and protect the populace and regulate where necessary; and stay out of our way in every other endeavor.

To liberals the purpose of the government is to solve the world's crises. They want the government to feed the poor and care for the sick and redistribute wealth.

Both ideals make great sense and are in keeping with American values. The problem is that on most issues they don't coexist well. Which is why no issue is ever resolved in a manner that makes both or either side happy.

It takes all kind to make a world, I think all people are wired up different,consider being raised up in a home,half republican , Church of Crist .

half Democrat . General Babiest. I got it from both sides.

I learned that there was good on both sides, I also learned Republican president , no jobs and very little help for poor. The poor gets poorer, the rich got richer. Go to war fight the enemy.

Democrat, good times ,more jobs help the poor and old less war.

This is only my opinion, maybe I was mixed up by being pulled back and forth. I do know it takes a very strong man to do good in the white house.

And i consider my self on the strong side, of course that my opinion.

Queen Bee

Of course the brains are wired differently, and common sense can explain this.

Libs are more active in the brain, particularly when it comes to the need to be entertained. For this reason, their brains are more open to experimentation, and less tuned to risk. As such, Libs are far more Hedonistic. This explains their comfort with ambiguity, since they have in their mind the possibility of some new high.

Not every thought that runs through your head is a productive one, even though pot smoking-get entertained as a life skill big time Lib professors might think it is.

One must be able to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Very interesting.

I would say it's possible. I've often wondered how two people could look at a given situation and come up with startlingly different ideas about it.

As to growing up, I grew up in a very non-liberal environment, which I despised. I fought it however, and challenged my family's ideas as often as I could. I could best be described now as a left leaning liberal, with a sprinkling of moderate, depending on the issue at hand.

Thanks for the links! :)

Speaking of pressing a "key in knee-jerk fashion ", notice all the thumbs down to liberals and the generalization (above me) about Democrats? Very interesting... Should I share my IQ with you all as well "RLP", or shall I be modest?

I will be voting for Ron Paul.

Both liberals and conservatives have reasons for liking him.

its probably true, not that its better. there is something to be said for shutting up and staying in line. maybe it was an evolutional response to straying from the group or something.

get ready for a bunch of insults from this question

I have a "gifted" IQ of 139 and my husband and kids are all over 150. We are a VERY intellectual family.

My oldest son will graduate with a Masters in Dec. and is applying for schools for his Doctorate in Business.

My daughter just graduated from the University of MN with a degree in Journalism and Advertising.

My 3rd child is in his 3rd year of pre-law.

My youngest is GREAT at physics and wants to be an Engineer.

ALL of us are Conservatives and so are our families. In my state - only the special interest groups and the lazy who depend on entitlements are Democrats.

We who have spoken with conservatives didn't need a study to tell us libs are smarter than cons.