A New Meaning to Right and Left Brained
Printed on: Thu, Sep 13, 2007
Republican, Democrat brains are different
By Kelvin Wade
Did you hear about the recent New York University and UCLA study that found liberals and conservatives have brains that actually process information differently? Liberals tolerate ambiguity and change easier than conservatives, while conservative brains are more structured and consistent in their decision-making.
This helps explain how President Bush could single-mindedly take the nation to war and ignore all the evidence of what a colossal screw up it's been. He's a victim of his neurons. His brain won't let him embrace new concepts and ideas.
By the same token, it explains why Bill Clinton had those all night pizza-fueled policymaking sessions. The liberal personalities in the room weren't focused like conservatives would be. Plus Ol' Bill with his liberal brain was primed to experience new . . . uh . . . situations while in office.
I've always thought this was the reason why right-wing radio works and left-wing radio doesn't. Progressives live in a world of nuance and complexity. I don't want to listen to tolerance, ambiguity and nuance for three hours.
But have a right-wing personality on the air spewing a black-white view of the world and you've got drama. You may not have intelligent conversation but you've got something controversial that people want to listen to.
Frank J. Sulloway, a UC Berkeley researcher analyzing the data for the L.A. Times, said that the data explains why liberals would more readily accept scientific and social ideas.
Case in point, when Gov. Schwarzenegger addressed a state GOP convention last week and told Republicans they need to reclaim the center, welcome independents and tackle issues like climate change, I think one or two crickets chirped in the audience.
The conservative personality struggles with change. But the liberal brain? Gay rights, climate change, and stem cell research are embraced.
However, the conservative brain is better built for budgeting. With a better ability to block distracting information, they can cut social programs and spending without thinking of the elderly and children falling through the cracks.
While the homeless are in the cold sleeping on rocks, they're in their beds sleeping like a rock.
The liberal personality factors in the poor and disabled and grannies living on a fixed income and sure enough, their spending goes out of control.
Have you ever went grocery shopping when you were really hungry and you go off your list and your shopping cart seems like it was filled by two stoners on a munchie run?
That's liberal Democrats.
Researchers point out that our views are also shaped substantially by our environment and experiences, but it's fascinating that there's apparently a biological blueprint at work as well. Peace.
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NOTES: For the record, a line was removed from this column. After I mentioned Schwarzenegger's speech, I wrote:
When Texas Gov. Rick Perry and California State Sen. Tom McClintock addressed the same crowd tossing them traditional GOP red meat the enthusiastic response was like a cross lighting at a Klan rally.
This type of brain dynamic is fascinating to me. It shows that our worldviews aren't always of our own choosing. There's been some biological groundwork laid. And that would only stand to reason. Scientists are finding out more and more about how human beings work. and in recent years, more and more, its been shown how biology plays a big role, perhaps as much as 50% of who we are.
It makes sense when you see that two siblings can be raised in the same family, same parents, same values, same environment and turn out so differently. There's something else at work and its the biological blueprint they start out with.
In this case, some of us are born with a rigid, structured thought pattern. And that would lead us towards being conservative. Others are born with a brain that sees nuance and complexity and that would lead them to be more progressive. But of course, there is how one is raised, their peers, environment and life experiences that color in and define who that person is.
It's rare that you meet someone who is completely conservative or liberal. I think our own biology, environment, education and experiences cause us to hold a wide range of views. But overall there will be a blueprint, a mindset that sits in the background.
For instance, I know that my brain is bent toward the liberal side. I know that I see life in shades of gray and I struggle with issues. I make decisions and am concerned whether or not I made the right one. I'm open to new ideas and concepts. While I'm a registered Independent, I spent years as a Democrat. At the same time, through experience and education, my views are moderate. I consider myself a flaming moderate.
I'm pro choice but have no problem limiting abortion. I'm pro-capital punishment. I think you don't raise taxes until you've cut all you can cut first, after all, that's what we do in our private life. If our budget isn't working, we cut expenses first. And then if that's not enough, we get a higher paying job or a second job. I want an end to illegal immigration but do want a guest worker program. I support the 2nd Amendment and own several firearms. I think there should be more troops in Afghanistan. I don't want to see California take on any new spending until we get the budget under control.
But while I may have some conservative views, I still have that bent towards progression. Equal rights, civil rights, civil liberties, honoring international agreements etc...
We're a sum of our parts. And some of our views are based on our DNA. Fascinating.
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