Psychology of Conservatism

[Michael_UK]

You may have seen this before but it's interesting. It's a study of the major factors underlining conservative thought, and states that the major factors are

(i) Death anxiety
(ii) System instability
(iii) Dogmatism, intolerance of ambiguity
(iv) Need for order, structure and closure
(v) Fear of threat and loss
The paper marginally suggests low self-esteem.

At the same time, conservatives tend not have openness to experience, and "integrative complexity", defined as " the degree to which thinking and reasoning involve the recognition and integration of multiple perspectives and possibilities and their interrelated contingencies".

Any thoughts?

Psychological Bulletin
2003, Vol. 129, No. 3, 339–375

Political Conservatism as Motivated Social Cognition
Jost et. al


Analyzing political conservatism as motivated social cognition integrates theories of personality (authoritarianism, dogmatism–intolerance of ambiguity), epistemic and existential needs (for closure, regulatory focus, terror management), and ideological rationalization (social dominance, system justification).



A meta-analysis (88 samples, 12 countries, 22,818 cases) confirms that several psychological variables predict political conservatism: death anxiety (weighted mean r
.50); system instability (.47);dogmatism–intolerance of ambiguity (.34); openness to experience (–.32); uncertainty tolerance (–.27); needs for order, structure, and closure (.26); integrative complexity (–.20); fear of threat and loss (.18);and self-esteem (–.09). The core ideology of conservatism stresses resistance to change and justification of inequality and is motivated by needs that vary situationally and dispositionally to manage uncertainty and threat.

http://www.psych.umn.edu/courses/spring04/mcguem/psy8935/readings/jost2003.pdf

[HereSince1628]

1. yes, its excellent, a bit of a deep swim for many readers but

I've been interpreting Bush and the RW for over a year using that study and it makes all kinds of sense.

[Raiden]

2. Fascinating stuff

and it all makes sense

[Michael_UK]

7. It seems to describe the right wing so well

[indepat]

3. Would add ungodly sanctimony, reichousness and hypocrisy

[bananas]

4. Your link isn't working

Can you edit that?

on edit: I googled for "jost2003.pdf" and found it here:
http://www.psych.umn.edu/courses/spring04/mcguem/psy8935/readings/jost2003.pdf

[Michael_UK]

5. Thanks

I was dumb, I'll edit as well.

[orpupilofnature57]

6. Right on Micheal_UK, and it causes "Narcissistic Fibrosis" or in other word's

The Bush Administration!

[bananas]

8. Syllabus Week 3: Is Political Conservatism a Mental Illness?

That reading is from Psych 8935
Looks like a pretty interesting course.
A couple of items from the syllabus:

Week #2– February 2: Personality – Why are dogs happier than humans?
Week #3– February 9: Is Political Conservatism a Mental Illness?

http://www.psych.umn.edu/courses/spring04/mcguem/psy8935/

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. Reverse conclusions do not hold. Need another study or 20

There needs to be another study, this time of progressivism or liberalism or socialism or whatever -ism you want to call it. You could probably find a different set of negative factors to associate with your favorite -ism.

Note that you can't reverse the conclusions. You can't conclude that because a person is conservative, they are fearful of death, for example. Further, the factors here are correlative and not necessarily causative.

There are probably a bunch of positive factors that are not mentioned in your note. (I have not read the PDF.)

On Edit: "not necessarily".