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Dr Dan Goyal's avatar

Some people want to look at the studies referred to in the piece. There are dozens of studies (and the years of PhD study) but here are a few if you want to dig deeper. Happy to answer any questions:

Meta-analysis on cognitive testing in Left vs Right ideologies:

https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/55893129.pdf

Amygdala structure:

https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(24)01757-7

A review of some of the imaging studies:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17828253/

propensity to “synchronisation” (programming) greater in right than left:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9908315/

Looking at the difference between extreme views (both sides) and moderates:

https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/1/3/pgac066/6590843

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Sharon L Fullen's avatar

Thanks for sharing this informative podcast. I believe it is a critical part of saving our democracy to understand the difference which dangerously divides us. The American version of the Nazi regime isn’t going away any time soon.

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WesternMac's avatar

The Left/Right paradigm is a control mechanism. The people give up their power of attorney, in fact, when they vote. The winners toss a few bones (almost all rhetorical) to their supporters all along the same agenda and narrative continues unabated.

If the people would step into the power of their own authority, morality and authenticity government would merely be a group of administrators doing the bidding and work of Living Men and Women.

At this point in the arc of civilization it appears to be too difficult for most people to take charge and responsibility for their own affairs. Almost all demand the masters whip and fight over which master has the right to wield it.

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Dr Dan Goyal's avatar

Still hopeful people will realise that all power comes from the people. The rebound to a failed authoritarian govt may be the catalyst.

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Catriona's avatar

Amazing!! This episode pulls together SO many ideas - notably those supported by defensible scientific research - to tease out some of the really gnarly conundrums of these challenging times.

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Lois Obrien's avatar

Very helpful. Just asking what is it you are afraid of happening. Also Politicians who deliver a concise message an example would be Pete Buttegieg.

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Dr Dan Goyal's avatar

That people vote against their own interests and give the power of democracy to those who will only use that power for their own good. And yes, I am worried that some of those who attain such power will push further division and ferment hatred of the “other”.

Pete is an excellent communicator and I won’t pretend to understand the depths of his skill. He does seem to have his head clear on the issue and what is concerning the public. And I think k he is excellent at laying the blame for those concerns where they need to be.

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Jason Rody's avatar

I enjoyed this.

I’m not the best at debate, often being told I’m too nice. Maybe I’m just empathetic to people with less brain development? IDK.

Open to suggestions.

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Jonathan Benge's avatar

I did some research many years ago on abstract prejudice and it’s great to hear about the social dominance orientation and the right wing authoritarian scales, if not by name!

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Andrea Cassidy's avatar

It was helpful to me that I had the voice and the captions coming into my head at once. It made the difference between understanding what he really meant sentence by sentence from what conclusions my brain kept tending to imagine he was saying.

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agnes veronica's avatar

very useful

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Ian Jobling's avatar

It’s a really interesting topic, but I refuse to spend 44 minutes listening to you talk about it. There are a lot of people like me who hate podcasts. I hope you write an article.

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Dr Dan Goyal's avatar

Hi Ian. I have already. This is just expanding on the issues in it and trying to get those who prefer podcasts to engage the issue.

https://open.substack.com/pub/dangoyal/p/the-right-wing-brain-is-different?r=1lppfd&utm_medium=ios

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Ian Jobling's avatar

It’s an intriguing article, but you don’t cite any evidence at all for your views. I was hoping you were going to write something that substantiated your thesis.

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Dr Dan Goyal's avatar

Some of the Evidence posted above.

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Ian Jobling's avatar

You say there’s evidence that, for example, “those who follow right-wing ideology tend towards lower intelligence and narrower cognitive abilities,” but you don't cite or link to any studies proving this or any of your other claims.

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Jerri L. Lawson's avatar

Not to mention that there is equality on both sides of varied intelligent levels. Just listening to this man seems there is a clear bias. Both sides have varied ideas on what is authoritarian, what is fascism, what is supremacy behavior.

What about the large amount of folks that have been left- socialism leaning most of their lives and said; this is not what we were promised, this is not self governance, this is not freedom, this is fascism.

This discussion of the study comes at the same times leftists are reacting to end of Federal laws on abortion. Their reaction is to announce they are having vasectomies, and fallopian ligation. This in lieu of using back up birth control, or old fashioned abstinence, or moving to a state that is happy to pay for all the abortions they feel is necessary for their sexual freedom. That seems pretty much an adult level of throwing a tantrum. They think it will guilt others into accepting blame for their rash decisions.

Another issue of cognitive distortion; Blaming a political figure for their inability to problem solve an issue that readily handled.

Whereas when an illegal alien bought my SS# several years ago. Experian gave me his aliases, his address (southern California) etc. IRS sent me a letter telling me nothing except to use an extension number attached to the original number.

No consequences for this man.

Instead of going after this man and the state of California (unrealistic) I voted for what you call racist, xenophobic person who puts our citizens first.

Not someone breaking two laws.

It’s not racism to want Ellis Island filtering system back in place.

Anything that demonizes nationalism as anything but patriotism, taking care of your citizens first- not last- is cognitive distortion of labeling at behest of globalism governance.

Any political system that promotes fostering confusing children, teaching them to not trust parents over teachers (there are some exceptions) is grooming. The outcome of that has been NEA (Marxist influences) employees encouraging children toward an alternative reality against biology, encourages medical treatment. The transitioning will cause a lifetime of scarring, pain, no sexual pleasure, and many times harming or destroying their fertility. I see far more suicides post and pre transitioning.

Tell me that is not reminiscent of the third Reich, brainwashing peoples children, sterilization of those deemed subpar. But the right opposing this- they are choosing someone Hitler- like?

Because we want to know who is running amok in our country- we are Hitler supporters?

I realize from the Scottish accent this comments may be based out of UK, or Europe. I can only speak to the incongruent conclusions I see in USA.

I still see this as the leftist globalists using any means to dehumanize those against socialism (charity is a free will action.) That behavior to dehumanize has always been used to get rid of a population you disagree with. Again- isn’t that seen in fascism, and certainly Marxism.

Just subtle, but certainly recognizable even with a low intelligence health professional as I am.

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Dr Dan Goyal's avatar

I am indeed biased, Jerri. I very much believe that moderate or socialistic frameworks are the most humane. And I will continue to fight for it.

Pretty sure those who subscribe to my newsletter are very much aware of my beliefs and I certainly wasn’t trying to come over as neutral.

The reality is that the evidence for the lower cognitive abilities in a subset of right wing voters is overwhelming.

Sorry, but there is a group of voters (mainly on the right) who are susceptible to manipulation. I guess you only know you’ve been conned at the end of the con.

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Mary Carouba's avatar

Very much needed perspective; thank you.

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Tammy Martin's avatar

Thank you for sharing!

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Paige Spray's avatar

I’m a bit confused at how definitive your words are with the right and the left mentality being specifically set. I believe this goes against healing the human crisis that is happening. I think the political agenda is based on control, no matter who is in ‘charge.’ I also see fear, and succumbing to that fear being very prevalent no matter which way you vote.

I perceive your words to be biased and to have an air about them to create more division. Lack of intelligence is apparent in many walks of life.

I do agree that addressing fear and educating society as a whole is very much needed. A few of these areas of education should include:

- communication/listening

- emotional regulation

- releasing the egoic mindset

- self-esteem

- parenting/relationship skills

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patty smythe's avatar

I found this conversation very insightful. The recognition that the rise of the Right is a psychological issue related to childhood trauma is very perceptive. Unresolved trauma blocks a person’s ability to be present in the frontal cortex where reasoning takes place. I think the other issue that the manipulators of the Right tap into and wield effectively is shame. The avoidance of feeling shame is such an enormous motivator of behavior

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Paige Spray's avatar

Hi Patty,

I think trauma is present in society as a whole and to heal society we need to be careful we do not exacerbate the division that is out there.

I do agree that shame has a major part in behavior for right or left.

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