migamoo

It might just be me, but I find this really interesting.

Jacob1983

That doesn't make any sense at all. It's basically saying that politics is biological. People aren't born Democrats or Republicans. They also aren't born liberals or conservatives. It's a choice for the most part and it depends on how you're raised and brought up.

fetch

It isn't saying politics are biological, it's saying people have certain patterns of thinking.

Ever met someone who has soooo much in common with you? You like the same music, same clothes, same movies? Our brain makes certain connections to things.

I personally have been conducting a mini-survey on boys, according to what body part they prefer on girls, and have noticed similar personality traits. Of course it isn't 100% proven, but psychology isn't 100% science.

Indian Summer

To a certain extent, there is some biology involved, but it's hardly the point. Like fetch said, it's about thought processes- what neurons fire and so forth. By nature, we're predisposed to hold the same values as our parents, so it makes sense that our brains would react when those values are questioned in similar ways.

Take the subject of abortion. Since your first thought, Jacob, would probably be along the lines of "sin" or "bad" (or so I'd think, but I don't suppose to know what you're thinking... just what you've said in the past), perhaps a certain part of your brain would light up. For me, though, I'd probably have more thought processes involved with that single word, since my first thought is along the lines of "Ech" or "Hmm," lol. For instance, the part of my brain that controls memory would light up, since I have friends and family members who have had abortions and therefore personal experience. Then there'd be radically different thought processes- like what happens to mothers who'd lose their lives if they had to carry through a pregnancy, or what happens to the slippery slope of women's rights if abortion is overturned, and so on.

It doesn't mean my brain is "smarter" than yours, or dumber. It just means we're hardwired differently, you know?

Jacob1983

Abortion has nothing to do with this trivial study. I may be pro-life but it's not like I go up to women and say you can't have abortions. If a woman wants to have an abortion, she can. I'm not gonna stop her. She will be the one that has to live with the possible guilt and regret for the rest of her life, not me.

Why don't these scientists and researchers put their time and effort toward more important things like curing AIDS, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, or stopping global warming, etc...?
It just seems that a lot of research is for very trivial meaningless things. I mean is this study going to save anyone's life or improve the quality of life for anyone?

I just think it's stupid every time a trivial meaningless study comes out. I saw one the other day that said that men like hot women. Duh! It doesn't take science to figure that out.

Indian Summer

Uh... you did read the article, right? Because it pretty clearly states that the study addressed areas that conservatives and liberals differ in and studied the brain's reaction. Abortion, like gay rights, the government's fiscal responsibility, and religion's place in government, is definitely one such area.

My point wasn't really your personal stance on abortion or whether it should be illegal. It was how you feel about it. You've said in the past you feel it's the equivalent of murder, and in this very post you're assuming it will lead to feelings of guilt and regret. That's very different than what I think when I hear "abortion" - which was my point.

I can't speak with any certainty, but these seem to be a different kind of scientist. They seem to be focused on sociological issues more so than biological/anatomical. Other scientists are working toward cures for diseases and slowing global warming, but not every scientist has studied the same things.

And you're welcome to that opinion. But it doesn't change the fact that this study gives insight into the human mind, or that it could very well be an important piece in the puzzle that is running a successful campaign, especially with swing voters.

Jacob1983

Will this study save anyone's life or help cure a disease? Yes or no?

Studies like this are just pointless and stupid to tell you the truth. It's common sense that liberals and conservatives think differently on certain political and sociological issues. You don't have to conduct a study to know that.

I just wonder how much money, time, and effort are wasted on stupid pointless studies like this one. That money and time could be used for something more useful, important, and helpful.

For the record, I said that women may have possible guilt and regret if they have abortions. Some people are tougher than others and don't cave to their emotions and conscience.

Indian Summer

Yes, or at least it's possible. So little is known about the brain that every little thing helps. My grandfather recently had brain surgery, and they keep a patient awake during a procedure to make sure they don't screw anything up while performing the surgery. Throughout it, they asked him what pictures were of, and spelled words for him and asked him what it spelled, and so on. Understanding thought processes is an important step toward understanding the brain and dealing with brain injuries. For instance, how much of political ideology is in the frontal lobe, which contains personality? People have had their frontal lobe destroyed and lived to tell about it, but they recover with radically different personalities. Other brain injuries have caused people to speak languages they didn't know beforehand. There's still a lot to learn, and every little bit helps.

It's common sense they think differently, but it wasn't common sense that that would actually manifest on brain scans, or that your brain actually works in different ways based on your beliefs.

I wonder how much money, time and effort are wasted on fighting a war we don't need to be fighting. That money and time could be used for something more useful, important, and helpful... like catching Bin Laden, or improving the education system, or finding a fix to the health care problem.

Apparently, you're still missing the point. The whole point I was making is that your initial thoughts when you hear the word "abortion" are radically different than mine. And apparently, if we had electrodes attached to our heads, that would be even more evident.

migamoo

Jacob, isn't your major psychology? I think of all people who post on this board, you'd be able to appreciate this study the most as it has a lot to do with psychology. It doesn't matter is the study is going to cure cancer or AIDS some other disease. That's not what these doctors are doing. As you know, psychologists study the brain, and that's exactly what they were doing with this study.

Jacob1983

Summer, for the millionith time I have no control over what Bush does. If you have a problem with the war in Iraq, talk to him about it. If you actually read my posts, you will know that I have stated that Bush should "cave" and start pulling the troops out because he could save himself and score some brownie points.
Fighting terrorists isn't necessary? Should we just get on our knees and beg all the terrorists to spare us? Should we just be lilttle wimps and convert to Islam because Bin Laden said so? Can you guarantee me without a shred of doubt that nothing bad will happen to America if there is an early withdrawal from Iraq?


I'm familiar with word association games. Of course, people are going to think of different things when they hear a word. My question is why is it so important? And what good will come out of it? If I'm going to be exposed to pointless stupid studies, I would rather have them be about something interesting like aliens or something.

Fieryangel, psychology is my major but I don't really like the field that much. I have no passion for it at all. I know that makes sounds sad and stupid but it's true. I have been in college for a million years now so it's too late to change major especially since I'm close to graduating. I picked psychology as my major purely on the money. If that makes me vain and shallow then so be it. I would rather be doing something that I hate and making a lot of money then doing something I enjoy but not making that much money. I want to live the good life at some point in my life.

migamoo

First, let's get back on topic. This thread is a study about how people think when it comes to politics, not the politics themselves.

Second, I think you chose the wrong field of study then! But then again, what one finds interesting another can find boring. It's all about our own psychology. Also, why do you think this study is stupid and pointless?

Indian Summer

I'm not trying to get off topic, Ashley, but I do want Jacob to know I don't blame him for the Iraq War, since apparently that's what he thinks. My whole point, Jacob, was that there's plenty of places that a lot more money's being wasted, and this most likely came from private funds as compared to the taxpayers. I hope that clears it up.

And with that, I have to go to class.

Jacob1983

I probably did choose the wrong major but it's too late to go back and change it. I'm already 24 and still in college. I have to get done with it soon. I may be wrong about psychology. I don't hate everything about it. There are some aspect that I like. I just don't like psychological research. I've taken classes about psychological research and it was torture. I don't like doing research especially in psychology. Psychology probably isn't my passion. My real passions are probably maps and the weather. I didn't ever think I would do well in meteorology and cartography because of the math involved.


This study is pointless and stupid because it's telling me something that I already know. Liberals and conservatives are different. I'm pretty sure the two groups disagreeing on most sociological and political issues proves that. You don't need to mess with the human brain to know that. If liberals and conservatives thought and felt the same way then they would lumped into one group instead of two groups.

migamoo

Research is only one small part of psychology though. I'm sure you'll find something that fits what you're interested in.

As for the two groups being different, of course well all knew that already. But this just shows how, on a more physiological level, the two groups are. Like I said before, interesting stuff, at least for me.

fetch

I don't think this research is completly pointless. The next step is to see if these thought processes could be changed. The most common idea currently in brain research and the learning development is "use it or lost it". Perhaps that could be changed.

BTW, if you want useless experiments, try the 2002 research on the wave, or dropping thousands of pieces of toast to see if it really will fall buttered side down.