A new study published in the British journal ... Nature Neuroscience ... found significant differences in how brain neurons fire between liberal and conservative thinkers. When faced with complex problems – liberal and conservative thinkers - appe
ar to be mentally hardwired for differences. How so?
Conservatives appear wired for organization and structure – and this group came up with more predictable solutions. In contrast, liberals tolerate ambiguity and tend to work around changing conditions far faster.
The two sides even appeared to learn differently. Because of these contrasting approaches, New York University political scientist, David Amodio, investigated to see if brains of liberals and conservatives react in different ways to the same stimuli.
Check out Amodio’s fascinating results. The match-up was unmistakable: respondents who had described themselves as liberals showed "significantly greater conflict-related neural activity" when the hypothetical situation called for a break in routine. Conservatives were less flexible, refusing to deviate from old habits "despite signals that this … should be changed.
The question that remains is … Are you liberal because your brain is hardwired for freer choices? Or would more conservative neuron activity predict more conservative choices in your organization?
Throw into the mix … recent research that shows how brains are also reshaped by a person’s world, as well as by their genes ... and you'll see why change can be so hard to achieve at work. What do you think?
Hello Ellen,
This is interesting stuff, endlessly fascinating. I've seen studies like these regarding religious inclination, as well. I love the work - and especially watching the nature/nurture battle waged in fields like these.
I must say, though, that I'm suspicious of characterizations of the differences that are couched in such a way as to infer moral or intellectual superiorities or deficiencies. Such habits on the part of such researchers suggests a predisposition of their own that further suggests that their material should be regarded with healthy skepticism.
For example, "conservatives" could probably be described as "wired" for logic and the ability to make connections, seeing patterns - rather than simply as with a bias for organization and structure, implying as that does insecurity and fear of the unknown.
On the other hand, "liberals" could have been described as "wired" for rambling inconsistency, latching on to varying perspectives or logical frameworks in turn as they present themselves, with limited ability to reconcile and learn from experience, or to build new knowledge.
Neither approach to characterizing "liberals" or "conservatives" would likely be correct, but would rather reflect the character of those offering the descriptions. The truth is likely to be found deeper in data that we haven't yet learned how to identify, find, or even recognize. And, it is likely, I suspect, to reveal beneficial features all along the range of thinking on social and political matters that together contribute to the evolutionary advantages that humankind has demonstrated.
But your closing comments about how research such as this may have organizational impact is - as always in your work - the value-adding, thought-provoking stuff! Thanks so much for it!
Posted by: Jim Stroup | September 9, 2007 11:35 AM | Permalink to Comment