The Conservative and Liberal Brain

**English assassin** · 01-09-2007, 15:43

Liberal women are more likely than conservative women to enjoy books, poetry, writing in a diary, acting, and playing musical instruments.

Its true too. Consider Monica Lewinsky and the presidential oboe ...

**yesdachi** · 01-09-2007, 17:06

Great Study Lemur, thanks for sharing. I find much of what was said to be true (or at least easily believable) The 911 conversion, the liberal and conservative likes and dislikes, education creating more liberalism to a point, fear voting and being made to think irrationally then when we use our heads we snap back to our core beliefs (Interestingly they only talk about a liberal to conservative conversion then back to rational liberal). The only part I really question is the kid to adult personality stuff.

The part that I found most interesting was this part…

People who venture from the strictures of their limited social class are less likely to stereotype and more likely to embrace other cultures. Education goes hand-in-hand with tolerance, and often, the more the better:

Professors at major universities are more liberal than their counterparts at less acclaimed institutions. What travel and education have in common is that they make the differences between people seem less threatening. "You become less bothered by the idea that there is uncertainty in the world," explains Jost.

That's why the more educated people are, the more liberal they become—but only to a point. Once people begin pursuing certain types of graduate degrees, the curve flattens. Business students, for instance, become more conservative in their views toward minorities. As they become more established, doctors and lawyers tend to protect their economic interests by moving to the right. The findings demonstrate that conservative conversions are fueled not only by fear, but by other factors as well.

With that in mind we should make sure our kids get a good education, read, travel and become passionate about life and develop good liberal attitudes about people, culture and art but their (although reinforcing the things learned at school) home life should reflect the conservative side where they can feel safe, understand financial responsibility and develop family values. I think ones home life is a larger contributor to their liberal or conservative attitude development (a conservative heavy balance 70/30 would be my preference) than anything else, education would be a close second.

The saying about being a liberal while young then growing up to become a conservative makes sense, when you are young you have nothing to conserve (hopefully your parents or someone is already doing that part for you) but as you grow up and acquire things, skills, family you should grow more conservative traits.

**Xiahou** · 01-09-2007, 17:40

So, if you're conservative, you're uneducated, fearful, intolerant, and don't like books. If you're liberal, you're educated, tolerant, a rational thinker and all-round great guy. Got it.

"There is a bias among social scientists," admits Glaser. "They look for the variables that are unflattering.

O'RLY?

**Lemur** · 01-09-2007, 17:46

Originally Posted by Xiahou

So, if you're conservative, you're uneducated, fearful, intolerant, and don't like books.

Look on the bright side: At least you can read a message board. Book-hater.

**Big_John** · 01-09-2007, 17:50

so this explains "git-r-dun"?

**Crazed Rabbit** · 01-09-2007, 17:53

Hi-larious.

Thanks Lemur.

CR

**Spino** · 01-09-2007, 20:01

Originally Posted by Lemur

Look on the bright side: At least you can read a message board. Book-hater.

Why do you hate ~~freedom~~ Cliff Notes?

**Vladimir** · 01-09-2007, 20:49

If you're not a liberal by 20 you don't have a heart. If you're not a conservative by 40 you don't have a brain.

**Xiahou** · 01-09-2007, 22:04

Originally Posted by Vladimir

If you're not a liberal by 20 you don't have a heart. If you're not a conservative by 40 you don't have a brain.

That's not the first time I've been called heartless.

**AntiochusIII** · 01-09-2007, 23:26

Originally Posted by Vladimir

If you're not a liberal by 20 you don't have a heart. If you're not a conservative by 40 you don't have a brain.

I'm brainless and heartless. What does that make me?

I don't trust this study, quite frankly. It sounds like a collection of cliches (Classical vs Country? Oh come on!). For one, my room is neater than 90% of teenagers in this country, I have no doubt. From the study I'm supposed to break down at the mention of Rush Limbaugh, praise his name to the LORD and then turn back and attempt to assassinate Al Gore.