Thread by @Nick_Carmody

Rational former Republicans (@radiofreetom/@stuartpstevens) have struggled to understand what happened to people they thought they knew as "intelligent & reasonable".
There are several things at play. First, we often view others through our own subjective lens. Therefore,….1/

...even when agreeing on an issue, we assume we arrive at same conclusion for similar reasons.

Nichols/Stevens arrived at certain conclusions due to their belief in Conservativism’s “commitment to traditional values/ideas & opposition to change socially traditional ideas.” 2/

But the problem is that many of the “socially traditional ideas” that existed in this country's history involved racism, discrimination, misogyny, homophobia, & bigotry.

And although rational former Republicans were seduced by the pragmatism/deliberateness of the ideology....3/

...the otherwise seemingly “intelligent & reasonable people” were seduced by how Conservativism’s “opposition to changing socially traditional ideas” resulted in the preservation of discriminatory policies.

It’s a subtle distinction, but an obviously consequential one. 4/

Another factor is that many of these people have the psychological profile of an “authoritarian follower”.

Research has shown that authoritarian followers make up as much as 30% of a given population. 5/

If 30% of the population has the psychological makeup of an "authoritarian follower"....when someone with authoritarian instincts/rhetoric finally comes into power...the proverbial "switch" apparently is flipped in those people.

More in this thread: 6/

Another factor is the constant manipulation of neuropsychological fear responses, as explained in this thread: 7/

....8/....

....9/...

After posting this thread I received an interesting response yet paralleled the experience of dealing with "Cluster B disordered" people:

patreon.com/posts/30889253

Yet, other factors: