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.
Article about device addiction by @brianklaas, which references @JonHaidt's book "the Anxious Generation" analyzing the effect smart phones have on kids.
I work with kids who struggle with electronic device dependency/addiction.
I attached relevant threads about Qanon, the neuropsychology of conspiracy theory susceptibility, and how dopamine/addiction and celebrity gossip/entertainment factors in, etc.
It's difficult to remember all of the things that should repulse otherwise decent people who continue to support a severely disordered man who they would otherwise condemn in any other context.
In 2018, I observed the parallels in political tribalism/conflict, and addiction.
I asked an advisor if i could focus on this in a grad school thesis, but was told I didn’t have the time, and the program didn’t have the resources.
2/
In 2021, I alluded to a possible addiction/dopamine link with politics in a @projectlincoln podcast......