Understanding the Conservative Mindset

[dirtywick]

Here is the original poll: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/30/maga-trump-scandal-2026-elections-01013859

It contains the startling insight that "MAGA Trump voters say they would stick with a GOP candidate accused of domestic violence" which we probably could've safely assumed given that Trump reportedly was that candidate.

It does not contain any mentions of conservatism, the mindset associated with conservatism, nor the principles traditionally associated with conservatism.

yes it does following this heading.

Republicans are generally more willing than Democrats to stick with their candidates despite scandal​

Share of adults, split by their 2024 vote, who would stick with their party's candidate through the following scandals if the midterms were tomorrow

don’t ask for polls if you don’t want polls.

 

[jt512]

The thing I have noted about conservatives is they always end up accepting progressive ideas, it just takes them longer.

Don't hold your breath on anything woke, such as open borders, DEI, gender ideology, critical race theory, pronouns, defunding the police, etc.

 

[ponderingturtle]

Don't hold your breath on anything woke, such as open borders, DEI, gender ideology, critical race theory, pronouns, defunding the police, etc.

You left out legalizing homosexuality and gay marraige. Those are both antithetical to conservatives rather like legalized birth control.

 

[Trausti]

You left out legalizing homosexuality and gay marraige. Those are both antithetical to conservatives rather like legalized birth control.

This is somewhat correct. But it was society in general that changed. Dems/lefties were against it for a long time, too. But it's was really the collapse of evangelicals as a political force that allowed most people to not care. Anyway, I've always thought was was hilarious:

 

[Ryan O'Dine]

Bumping, because I just read a book by Robert Sapolsky called Behavior. One measurable difference between conservative and liberal mindsets is that the right is more influenced by disgust (the insula region of the brain). This has been measured in different ways; one famous example being that people asked to fill out a survey were more prone to lean right when there was a garbage can overflowing with rancid trash in the room than in the same room, same survey, but no trash. Brain scan studies have born out the insula connection as well.

Furthermore, the concept of moral good is so newly evolved as to lack its own dedicated focus of activation in the brain, so the brain uses metaphorical alignment (a concept explored to a great extent, lots of fascinating experiments). Physical disgust and moral disgust both activate the insula.

In the conservative mindset, moral reasoning often ends more or less at the insula. On the left, there's a tendency to take one more step and involve the pre-frontal cortex (the "executive" part of the brain). Specifically, the vmPFC -- the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.

One can imagine a scenario: heterosexual males watch two men kissing on the street. The conservative-inclined males may experience the gut reaction of disgust, interpret this as equally a moral disgust, and that's where the processing ends. The liberal-inclined males may experience more or less the same gut reaction, but their vmPFC takes over and they think, "But I know a bunch of gay men, and they're all right by me," or "But I see myself as a live and let live person," so the action of the insula gets moderated by the reaction of the vmPFC.

Lots of really fascinating studies bear this out. I recommend the book, it's a fantastic read. (He also gets into the dangers of too much empathy, just btw.)

 

[jt512]

...one famous example being that people asked to fill out a survey were more prone to lean right when there was a garbage can overflowing with rancid trash in the room than in the same room, same survey, but no trash.

I'm afraid that sounds like all-too-typical social psychology p-hacked ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ that ends up not replicating when studied in a more-rigorous manner. Could you provide a reference to the study? I'd like to take a critical look at the study design and analysis.

 

[Venom]

The apparent contradictions in the "conservative mindset" (or any mindset) can be summarized as either cognitive dissonance, people not really knowing what they want or not accurately communicating it, intentionally or otherwise, or just competing ideas within the Right.

Why did an earlier generation of conservatives emphasize state's rights and small government? They were invoking the principles of the historic American nation, and the Left was gaining a lot of influence in the second half of the last century. The rule is you retreat to libertarianism when the other side has power. But over a long enough timeline, libertarianism isn't going to save you---you have to make people leave you alone. Conservatism, even of the Joe Sobran variety, isn't enough. And I think that's why we're seeing a resurgent Right unapologetically seeking state power to overturn the work of the civil rights movement, second-wave feminism, gay movement, etc. I think the Left has understood this for a while, albeit not to the satisfaction of the DSA and anarchist crowds.

 

[jt512]

The apparent contradictions in the "conservative mindset" (or any mindset) can be summarized as either cognitive dissonance, people not really knowing what they want or not accurately communicating it, intentionally or otherwise, or just competing ideas within the Right.

Why did an earlier generation of conservatives emphasize state's rights and small government? They were invoking the principles of the historic American nation, and the Left was gaining a lot of influence in the second half of the last century. The rule is you retreat to libertarianism when the other side has power. But over a long enough timeline, libertarianism isn't going to save you---you have to make people leave you alone. Conservatism, even of the Joe Sobran variety, isn't enough. And I think that's why we're seeing a resurgent Right unapologetically seeking state power to overturn the work of the civil rights movement, second-wave feminism, gay movement, etc. I think the Left has understood this for a while, albeit not to the satisfaction of the DSA and anarchist crowds.

Your hallucinations reveal a lot about the liberal mindset.

 

[Ryan O'Dine]

I'm afraid that sounds like all-too-typical social psychology p-hacked ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊. Could you provide a reference to the study? I'd like to take a critical look at the study design and analysis.

I listened to the book as a library loan, so I can only refer you to the book itself. Here's the Amazon link: Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. It was an audio book, but I'd be shocked if it didn't have extensive references to journal articles.

Sapolsky is a neuroscientist and a primatologist. The book was heavy on science, and a challenging read, but I do recommend it.

 

[Venom]

Your hallucinations reveal a lot about the liberal mindset.

I overstated it a bit there. But I believe it's moving in that direction, particularly among young men. And we see this sentiment among some Republican politicians and candidates for office.

 

[arthwollipot]

Your hallucinations reveal a lot about the liberal mindset.

If you're not seeing that, then it's you that's blinkered.

 

[jt512]

I overstated it a bit there. But I believe it's moving in that direction, particularly among young men. And we see this sentiment among some Republican politicians and candidates for office.

Ok. Fair enough.