Conservatives Don't Use Logic in Making Political Decisions

A very interesting presentation which addresses

Motivated reasoning and inferred justification -




We are looking here at why it is that conservatives are so irrational when considering the facts of situations, and prefer to so often use emotional pathways to their conclusions rather than logic.

The emotional driver does of course come in many forms, such as fear or parochial motivation however the irrational consequences are all so obvious to any observer. Thought this was absolutely worth putting up considering the incredible rash of conservative racism infecting this site, along with emotional fantasies such as Nazism, socialism and other FEAR driven conservative platforms.

There is no doubt that there is a case for this being used in any format - however there is no doubt that this sums up exactly the feverish position of the conservatives in modern America - Glenn Beck - case in point.

Enjoy.

Original thesis available here.
www.allacademic.com...

download here
www.allacademic.com...

reply to post by audas


My reply , three things.......

1. Hypocrisy on the part of the left.

2. Take a look at the current administration and their "logical" decisions.

3. See point one, then reread point 2

[edit on 1-9-2009 by ManBehindTheMask]

reply to post by audas


It's very well likely that conservatives don't use logic as much as liberals, because liberals tend to be more open to new experiences - allowing for more opportunity to acquire knowledge. Conservatives, however, have more moral foundations to uphold and weigh, sometimes in lieu of or at the cost of logic. To be fair, there is a lot of truth behind the sentiment that Conservatives are the ones keeping the Liberals from destroying this nation.

Let me explain.

Because our government is a complex non-linear system - it's success relies on an interplay between Conservative and Liberal views. Liberals promote change and diversification, allowing for adaptation to changing times and preventing stagnation. Conservatives preserve the structure and trend - keeping things from falling into chaos and ensuring the changes made are directed and purposeful.

This is just a rough guideline, of course, but it's there. It's also there in our brains according to Jonathan Haidt of the University of Virginia. Additionally, we're born with five (that he's identified) moral foundations of varying disposition to set up in anticipation of experience after birth. They supposedly exist across the human spectrum in various forms. They are Harm/Care, Fairness/Reciprocity, Ingroup/Loyalty, Authority/Respect, and Purity/Sanctity.

Liberals score high on Harm/Care, Fairness Reciprocity - but low on the others. They generally don't tend to care much for authority, loyalty, or purity much beyond their "organic all mother natural" kick (in American culture at least). Conservatives on the other hand use all five moral foundations. So I guess it could be claimed that conservatives really are more moral than liberals. However, since their moral foundations are spread more evenly, there is less focus on the morals that liberals use. So a conservative may justify abstinence only programs in schools, fearing the degradation of our youth - because their morals are spread between purity, authority, loyalty as well. It's easier to live with social injustice if other morals are upheld. Whereas liberals tending to focus on the harm/care and Fairness morals are more concerned with the consequences of unwanted teenage pregnancies in the face of failing abstinence only programs.

Moral Foundations.org

Johnathan Haidt's TED speech: The Real Difference between Liberals and Conservatives.




[edit on 1-9-2009 by Lasheic]

[edit on 1-9-2009 by Lasheic]

Ever notice that if you switch the "liberal" and "conservative" tags on every reply and posting, it still seems valid to someones perspective?
Be an American.
Be independent of the herd.
Be true to your own ideas, and don't compromise to be a part of some "team".

Originally posted by gotrox
Ever notice that if you switch the "liberal" and "conservative" tags on every reply and posting, it still seems valid to someones perspective?
Be an American.
Be independent of the herd.
Be true to your own ideas, and don't compromise to be a part of some "team".

Simple and to the point, I could not have said it better. Neither party uses logic, all they want is control. Plain and simple and they will do whatever they can to discredit the other side. Idiotic and ridiculous divisiveness.

"Simple and to the point, I could not have said it better. Neither party uses logic, all they want is control. Plain and simple and they will do whatever they can to discredit the other side. Idiotic and ridiculous divisiveness."

Liberal and conservative are not parties, they are ideologies. There is no "team", you either posses liberal thoughts and ideas or conservative thoughts and ideas, or a mix of both (which most - I'd dare to say all - people do). You become this way through life experiences, input from others, etc.

I have heard it said many times that liberals think with their hearts and conservatives think with their minds.

reply to post by bagari


I respectfully disagree. The two teams have the same masters who own the field, the equipment and have the refs paid off to make sure they get the result they want, which is more power, more control.

They want us divided so we can't fight them. We are too busy fighting ourselves.

It's obvious to see, IMHO, but that's just me and lately I have started to feel like I sound like Terry Bohner in the flick A Mighty Wind, talking about his "religion", WINC(Witches In Natures Colors):

This is not an occult science. This is not one of those crazy systems of divination and astrology. That stuff's hooey, and you've got to have a screw loose to go in for that sort of thing. Our beliefs are fairly commonplace and simple to understand. Humankind is simply materialized color operating on the 49th vibration. You would make that conclusion walking down the street or going to the store.

What is obvious to me probably isn't to others. He clearly is off his rocker, I think I'm not. Just because I think that doesn't mean I am right, it's just the way I see it.

reply to post by TheLoony


you are confusing Democrats and Republicans, the party system with liberalism and conservatism.

Above poster is correct, liberalism and conservatism are a set of thought processes and ideas concerning a variety of different things.

Case in point, you can be a conservative democrat (blue dog democrat) or say a more liberal Republican. Also you can be a conservative Independent.

You dont have to agree, but its true. There is a difference between the two sets of terms.

That is so odd, because most people I know believe just the opposite!!

See my thread about Jury Duty Here:
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Both attorneys preferred a Liberal Jury, because it was easier to manipulate their decisions with emotions, whereas a Conservative Jury would have weighed the facts more heavily!

My brother is a University Professor, very Liberal in a lot of cases, but also very Logical (Physics and Economics degrees)! His biggest complaints about those who share his Liberal views, is that they tend to shoot holes in their own arguments by ignoring the facts and the logic and preferring to argue based on emotion, stress, and popularity!!

IMHO, this is just some bad Propaganda against Conservatives. Pot meet Kettle!

[edit on 1-9-2009 by getreadyalready]

The "right vs left" argument, aka "liberal vs conservative", has long since ceased to matter. They are two heads of the same monster in my opinion.
I don't think that anyone in our Federal Gov't right now(save for a couple of individuals) is acting all that logically. They just keep spending and spending and spending, rushing all of these bills through Congress. I'm more concerned with whether or not i'll be able to take a leak next year without having to ask someone if it's OK. I think that most of our elected representatives are more concerned with keeping the status quo going.....nobody is making any real waves, EVEN after all of the bailouts etc., EVEN after it has become clear that our economy is not going to magically rebound.

reply to post by mpriebe81


I can see on the horizon from Carole Browner some edict to tax us on urine production "For The Children"!!!

Zindo

Originally posted by ZindoDoone
reply to post by mpriebe81

 

I can see on the horizon from Carole Browner some edict to tax us on urine production "For The Children"!!!

Zindo

My town already has billboards all over that say "Poo is not cute!" with a picture of a sad puppy, and instructions on cleaning up after your pet to protect the water supply!! Ridiculous!

reply to post by getreadyalready


The problem that people need to understand is conservatism does not equal republican.

Just like liberals dont equal democrats.

Most conservatives have pretty much abandoned the republican party years ago because of the pure fact that they arent conservative, they are either too far right or they are too weak to do what, as conservatives, we think should be done.

Conservatives also dont always vote a long party lines, conservatives are more of a common sense type of people with conservative values, hence conservative.....

You dont have to be a republican to be conservative.

I think people need to make themselves more politically aware that way they dont make the blanket statements they do.

I understand that it all seems like a shell game , and for the 2 party system, democrats and republicans it is.

The more people associate Conservatives with Republicans and Liberals with Democrats, the better off it is for them. If people cant make out what the difference is, then they have a better chance at keeping that two party system.

As soon as people start realizing they arent the same it starts the breakdown of that power strangle hold of that two party system.

reply to post by ManBehindTheMask


I agree completely. To me, Conservative means smaller Fed Government, less regulation of markets, fewer criminal laws, albeit with stiffer penalties for the violent crimes, and slower growth and progress in general.

I am considered a Conservative, but I still have concerns for the environment. I still think the Don't Ask/Don't Tell policy is illogical. I still think there is a place for same-sex unions although I don't like calling them "marriages". I don't oppose a National Healthcare Bill, although I really despise this particular monstrosity. I think Social Security should have a private option or be entirely voluntary! I don't want to cut any Social Programs, but I want to get rid of the incentives to have more children or stop earning incomes.

I think I will start an additional thread to define what a Conservative is or a Liberal is, and what are the Deal Breakers of calling yourself one!

If I am a Conservative, can I still think Gays should be allowed in Military?

If I am a Liberal, can I still think this Healthcare Bill is a ridiculous political attempt and not a true and honest endeavour?

What if I am all for drilling off the coasts, but I still see the strategic benefit to buying our oil from around the world and hoarding our own?

Originally posted by ManBehindTheMask
reply to post by TheLoony

 

you are confusing Democrats and Republicans, the party system with liberalism and conservatism.

Above poster is correct, liberalism and conservatism are a set of thought processes and ideas concerning a variety of different things.

Case in point, you can be a conservative democrat (blue dog democrat) or say a more liberal Republican. Also you can be a conservative Independent.

You dont have to agree, but its true. There is a difference between the two sets of terms.

The common vernacular has changed, don't you see? Twenty years ago you would be correct, but we have changed our definitions of what these things mean. The American mind has been conditioned to think Liberal=Democrat=Liberal=Democrat and Conservative=Republican=Conservative=Republican. These definitions are so intertwined that they have now become "truth".

reply to post by getreadyalready


Yeah i agree with most of the stuff you said in that post, I would love to be a part of that thread!

Good stuff bud.

LoL yeah you can still be a conservative and still think gays should be in the military, however i dont think you could be a republican? lol all jesting a side


Like me, im totally against revamping the whole system into a nationalized healthcare system...This bill is an abomination, but thats just part of it I dont think the government could HANDLE a system they were in charge of.

At least for a large part right now we are in charge of the quality of care we get, and even tho we are getting hosed left and right, i would like to retain that right.

However i am in favor of fixing the system that is CLEARLY broke, implementing tort reform etc, you know the idea. Could you imagine what it would be like if we made it where heath insurance was dealt with like car insurance? If it was that competitive! Doctors could still get paid well, yet we had more control over our care, and the rates we pay for the insurance were changed? It would force a drop in cost, and companies to compete to stay ahead. You could call it Medco "Geico" hah!

I dunno exactly how you would work it, but im sure there are ways to do so.


I think some of those thought processes have more to do with being independent/conservative.

I agree there seems to be all these clear cut lines they expect you to follow, which is illogical in all aspects when you look at it.

Its almost like they set it up that way on purpose to keep the bickering back n fourth, I mean, as long as the masses are busy squabbling the Ceasars will be left to whatever diabolical devices their devious minds can muster.

No one is logical. Amazing how easily the idiot american has been brainwashed into thinking terrorism is some huge problem when in reality it is a smaller threat than bee stings. OTOH reckless drivers pose a bigger threat to each of us than all other criminals put together and yet americans say i don't care.!!!

reply to post by A Fortiori


Yessir

Precisely what i was getting at here.

Its almost like they set it up that way on purpose to keep the bickering back n fourth, I mean, as long as the masses are busy squabbling the Ceasars will be left to whatever diabolical devices their devious minds can muster.

reply to post by ManBehindTheMask


www.abovetopsecret.com...

Here is the new thread seeking to define Conservative / Liberal!

So let me get this strait spending trillions on healthcare with a 100 trillion national debt looming in the future is a logical decision? I wonder how much longer the dollar will last? I guess You haven't looked into that yet or possibly You believe its the evil oil companies causing prices to go up since the MSM told You so.