OPPOSING MINDSETS

It is a theory of mine that where people stand politically is  a result of inborn tendencies.  Another way of putting this is that  political  alignment and political choices may spring from innate psychological or organic predisposition.

Think of children. There are little children who shout “leave me alone!” when you try to mother them, and there are those who always cry out for help. Those who let the parent dress them, and those who push to do it themselves. Those who are afraid of everything, and those who are bold. Those who cry for help on things, and those who try and do it themselves. Those who are afraid of getting hurt, and those who charge forth. The proposition is that these basic orientations grow into choices of political positions.

The following Table of the Great Divide categorizes the liberal-conservative divide by the core motivations or beliefs from which one must proceed to arrive at their final positions.

Sometimes it is expressed in the table as a behavior pattern you can observe, sometimes as a something akin to something you have heard blurted out.

This table is based on specific incidents I observed repeatedly occurring.    Make your own observations as events unfold with people, and see if the facts generally fall into a pattern supporting my theory as set forth in the table.  There is of course no bright line dividing scale from far left to far right, and there exists a middle zone of blended folks.  The table will from time to time be expanded and revised.  I would welcome specific supportive examples,  with specific citations so that I can verify the reference.   Perhaps I’ll gradually footnote them and build a base of supporting examples.

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Subsequent Notes:

Interestingly, I understand that a professor at the University of Florida in 2004 began a study using brain scans looking for organic structural differences to try and explain the difference in approaches to societal organization and conduct.

Further evidence that political orientation and thus political alignment springs from innate psychological disposition or organic predisposition, is suggested in the September 2006 announcement of sleep researcher Kelly Bulkeley of John F. Kennedy University in California that liberals exhibit a high number or irrational dreams and while conservatives exhibit more rational dreams.

More interesting information comes forth from a set of four 2007 Gallup polls. Republicans are significantly more likely than Democrats or independents to rate their mental health as excellent, according to data from the last four November Gallup Health and Healthcare polls. The differences are quite significant. Fifty-eight percent of Republicans report having excellent mental health, compared to 43% of independents and 38% of Democrats. “But the key finding of the analyses presented here is that being a Republican appears to have an independent relationship on positive mental health above and beyond what can be explained by these types of demographic and lifestyle variables. The exact explanation for this persistent relationship — as noted — is unclear.” See http://www.gallup.com/poll/102943/Republicans-Report-Much-Better-Mental-Health-Than-Others.aspx