Decades of research shows conservatives (compared to liberals) see the world as a more dangerous place, which is thought to increase conservative views on immigration, military, etc.
We were wrong. Big SPPS article w/ @NicholasTKerry1 out today doi.org/10.1177/194855…
🧵/13
We were wrong. Big SPPS article w/ @NicholasTKerry1 out today doi.org/10.1177/194855…
🧵/13
2/13
Most previous research relied on one scale. It was created before researchers discovered (in 2019) that dangerous world belief has seven dimensions. The first of our four big findings is that we replicated pre-registered results showing the old scale happens to...
Most previous research relied on one scale. It was created before researchers discovered (in 2019) that dangerous world belief has seven dimensions. The first of our four big findings is that we replicated pre-registered results showing the old scale happens to...
3/13
...highlight only the three dimensions where conservatives see the world as slightly more dangerous (competitive, declining, and physically hazardous) and neglects the one big way liberals see the world as more dangerous (rife with injustice).
...highlight only the three dimensions where conservatives see the world as slightly more dangerous (competitive, declining, and physically hazardous) and neglects the one big way liberals see the world as more dangerous (rife with injustice).
4/13
2nd big finding: using an improved, more balanced measure in 9 samples (5,500 subjects) we found virtually no difference when it came to dangerous world belief. If the average conservative met the average liberal, they'd agree on how dangerous the world is.
2nd big finding: using an improved, more balanced measure in 9 samples (5,500 subjects) we found virtually no difference when it came to dangerous world belief. If the average conservative met the average liberal, they'd agree on how dangerous the world is.
5/13
This kinda blew our minds, contradicting not just expectations and decades of findings, but also some of our own research too. Could this be an artifact of how we were measuring political views? So we looked at 25 left-right issues, from Trump support to views on climate.
This kinda blew our minds, contradicting not just expectations and decades of findings, but also some of our own research too. Could this be an artifact of how we were measuring political views? So we looked at 25 left-right issues, from Trump support to views on climate.
6/13
3rd big finding: the same pattern of correlates held across the 25 measures. For example, in 2016, Sanders supporters actually saw the world as slightly more dangerous than Trump supporters, though that difference was nonsignificant.
3rd big finding: the same pattern of correlates held across the 25 measures. For example, in 2016, Sanders supporters actually saw the world as slightly more dangerous than Trump supporters, though that difference was nonsignificant.
7/13
Our 4th and most important finding: we identify the actual main world belief differences that separates liberals and conservatives. Of 26 possible "primal world beliefs" or "primals"--researcher terms for extremely simple world views--the biggest difference by far was...
Our 4th and most important finding: we identify the actual main world belief differences that separates liberals and conservatives. Of 26 possible "primal world beliefs" or "primals"--researcher terms for extremely simple world views--the biggest difference by far was...
8/13
...the view that the world is an inherently hierarchical place, where differences matter and probably deserve respect. This belief concerns not just differences among humans (between rich/poor, etc.). *All* things can be ranked. And it's not just those on top who believe it.
...the view that the world is an inherently hierarchical place, where differences matter and probably deserve respect. This belief concerns not just differences among humans (between rich/poor, etc.). *All* things can be ranked. And it's not just those on top who believe it.
9/13
A total of six primal world beliefs stood out. Together they describe two opposing realities in which conservative (versus liberal) views on a wide range of issues make a weird amount of sense. For example, this passage describes conservative reality in a nutshell:
A total of six primal world beliefs stood out. Together they describe two opposing realities in which conservative (versus liberal) views on a wide range of issues make a weird amount of sense. For example, this passage describes conservative reality in a nutshell:
10/13
"In a world seen from the conservative view, differences are important, reflecting an underlying value structure seen as natural and perhaps even cosmically ordained (high Hierarchical world belief, high Intentional world belief). What has more value is treated fairly...
"In a world seen from the conservative view, differences are important, reflecting an underlying value structure seen as natural and perhaps even cosmically ordained (high Hierarchical world belief, high Intentional world belief). What has more value is treated fairly...
11/13
"...and thus finds its way to the top; what has less value finds its way to the bottom (high Just world belief, low Worth Exploring). Thus, the current situation should be accepted, not because it can't be changed, but because it probably shouldn't be (high Acceptable).
"...and thus finds its way to the top; what has less value finds its way to the bottom (high Just world belief, low Worth Exploring). Thus, the current situation should be accepted, not because it can't be changed, but because it probably shouldn't be (high Acceptable).
12/13
"However, change is a part of life and the world’s hierarchies—seen as good things—are being eroded (low Progressing world belief). Therefore, stopping change and accepting inequality (the definition of conservatism) is just common sense, and vice versa for liberals."
"However, change is a part of life and the world’s hierarchies—seen as good things—are being eroded (low Progressing world belief). Therefore, stopping change and accepting inequality (the definition of conservatism) is just common sense, and vice versa for liberals."
13/13
In polarized times, understanding the world from liberal/conservative perspectives is key to perspective-taking, because that precedes cooperation. But perspective-taking *requires* knowing the other perspective. Maybe now perspective-taking efforts can bear more fruit.
In polarized times, understanding the world from liberal/conservative perspectives is key to perspective-taking, because that precedes cooperation. But perspective-taking *requires* knowing the other perspective. Maybe now perspective-taking efforts can bear more fruit.
For those who can't access the full article, go here and scroll down. The supplement is important too in this case cause it includes the results for the 25 other variables like attitudes on climate change, economic conservatives, RWA, and so forth.
tinyurl.com/4ypef9t6
tinyurl.com/4ypef9t6
For those interested in taking the Primals Inventory and learning their own scores on all these world beliefs: myprimals.com/discover-your-…
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