Science takes us closer and closer to understanding our world, and ourselves. We were inspired by Nicholas Kristof’s recent article in the New York Times about the differences between how Conservative and Liberal brains work. We did a bit of Internet searching and found some fascinating articles about the new science of physiology and political beliefs. Now we’re wondering if we can ever be really mad at the far-right again. After all, “it is all in their heads!”
Is it possible to look at the differences between how Conservatives and Progressives govern and correlate these differences with physiology? We can look at the different ways that each side reacted to 9/11, and maybe we can also consider the differences in how Progressives and Conservatives legislate to see if there is a correlation with how our brains work.
The research is fascinating: It indicates that there are physical differences in how our brains operate, and that those differences are measurable and predictive of our political orientation. Scientific experiments, using electrodes to measure the “startle blink reflex,” recorded the differing political orientation among subjects who have a strong reaction to being startled to those who have a less strong reaction.
Those who were more easily startled, (had a stronger startle-reaction) were more likely to perceive threat and danger when startled, and were more likely to be conservative in their politics. Kristof points out that this evidence “makes intuitive sense: If you are more acutely sensitive to risks and more fearful of attack, you may be more aggressive in arming yourself and more wary of foreigners.”
In these experiments a strong startle-reaction was also predictive of a perception of the world in black-and-white terms. Examples of this kind of black-and-white thinking would be: “with us or against us”; “good or evil “; “us or them.”
Other research informs us that there appears to be strong link between being Liberal and “openness” which is defined as: having an ability to accept new ideas; having a high level of tolerance for ambiguity; and an appreciation of different cultures. Although Liberal leaning subjects reacted to being startled — by the “flash of noise (that) was unexpectedly broadcast into the research subjects’ earphones…,” — they were not particularly threatened.
So we have some who may be born into this world primed to startle easily and be fearful, and others who are not. That may explain a lot about the different way each side actually saw 9/11 and the new threats to the country. Bush and Cheney immediately kicked into the black-and-white-thinking of “us and them” and seemed to almost fall into a state of fear, panic and over-reaction.
The black-and-white approach to life also comes into play when observing how decisions get made in Washington. The Republicans see everything in terms of “right and wrong.” Democrats tend to see decision-making in terms of “let’s negotiate.”
This new research may also help answer the Liberals’ lament: “Why is it that we always compromise and the other side never does?”
The science of physiology and political beliefs may hold the answer. If Republicans see governing as “We will do the right thing, and we’re always right” and Democrats see governing as “Let’s sit down and negotiate and I’ll give in a little, and you give in a little” then one side always goes into discussions having already indicated that they’re willing to give. And so Democrats do give, because their brains are hard-wired with a willingness to be open to other ideas and to see nuance — whereas the Republicans are hard-wired to “stick by their black-and-white principles and do the ‘right’ thing.”
We see them as mean, and they see us as weak. It might help to understand that Conservatives are wired to be wary, and perhaps we could look for opportunities to present our ideas in ways they can appreciate. And, maybe it’s time that one side (why not us?) use this new understanding to try to bridge the communications divide with the American people, and not just focus on being the “winners.” Let them stay in that “we win — you lose” mentality while we proceed with persuading and governing.
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