Logic Is Not A Factor - Writers Forum

Malone · 05-09-2008, 09:48 PM

My psychiatrist showed me an article from one of his journals the other day that I found interesting. The experiment is a few years old, so I'm sure some of you have heard about it, but I think it was new to me. Scientists at Emory here in Atlanta conducted a political study of the partisan mind using fMRI scans. They presented both Republicans and Democrats with a variety of statements from George W. and John Kerry in which the two men were apparently contradicting themselves. Bush would say one thing, then contradict himself in another speech. Kerry would say one thing in one speech, then turn around and contradict himself in another. That kind of thing.
While mapping the subjects' brains, the scientists presented these contradictions to members of both parties. The Republicans all claimed that Kerry was contradicting himself, but never Bush. Vice versa for the Democrats. The interesting thing was that the brain scans showed virtually no activity in the rational reasoning section on the brain. Instead, areas believed to control emotion lit up. The circuits that govern sadness and disgust just turned off. Reward circuits lit up as well (I find this as significant as the lack of reason).
So, basically, they took a big step toward proving that actually listening to the candidates and forming logical judgments from their words and action has little to no involvement in party politics. Revisionist "logic" just re-enforces whatever the voter wants to believe.
I can't say it's particularly surprising to me that the data pointed to these conclusions. It seems like when talking to people here or in real life, or reading through the debate forum, this result is played out again and again. It's just always nice to see things I suspect proven by science. Now I can feel justified when I look down on other people who make belief based rationalizations (that's a half-joke).
I'd say this same sort of brain mapping test would have similar results if used in the context of religion and/or biblical contradictions, although that's not really the point of this post.

Here's an article I found on Google about it.
Emory University News Release - PoliticalBrain

alanmt · 05-09-2008, 09:52 PM

The two-party system has given Americans a sports-team mentality toward politics.

I have been troubled by this for a long time.

Modest Me · 05-09-2008, 09:59 PM

I think they should take away Republican-Democrat labels... Just politicians running for office.. People would be actually forced to look at the issues.

I wonder how many people would even vote that year?

Edit- I'd also like to add that I don't doubt that study one bit- I myself get emotional when people talk bad about Huckabee, or Bush.. Although, they were right a lot about Bush (except for when they made fun of his studdering- thats just childish)

Tiamat10 · 05-10-2008, 05:38 AM

I'd not heard that but I think it's kind of obvious. I mean, just think about the way you feel when you get 'worked up' about something in a debate.

For example, I just read Modest Me's post:

Quote:

I myself get emotional when people talk bad about Huckabee, or Bush.. Although, they were right a lot about Bush (except for when they made fun of his studdering- thats just childish)

I despise Bush and I'm not real fond of the Republican party in general, and immediately I felt myself wanting to derail this thread and launch into a lecture about my issues with Dubyah.

It's the emotions and the instinct to get defensive that spur most of the debate. The logical ones (and usually the ones with the most impressive arguments) are the ones that pause a moment to think about WHY they reacted as they did, instead of just debating from their gut.

A-L · 05-10-2008, 08:17 AM

This doesn't surprise at all either. People are passionate about whatever party they belong to, often so passionate they don't listen to reason. Sorry MM but I have to agree with Tiamat, I can't stand Bush either, in fact I don't like most republicans in general, though some are good people. But back to the OT, people reacting and thinking with emotion is not surprising, in truth it kind of explains a lot of things about the voters and why they vote the way they do.

Shawn · 05-10-2008, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modest Me

I myself get emotional when people talk bad about Huckabee

Why? That's like if I said. "I get emotional when people say bad things about Hitler."

Except Hitler didn't try to pretend to be the best do-gooder in the world, while publically saying that he would amend the constitution to "do God's work."

Modest Me · 05-10-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

in fact I don't like most republicans in general,

I guess you don't like me.

If I was the president, you better believe I would do my best to "to God's work", because thats what Christians do.

Shawn · 05-10-2008, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modest Me

If I was the president, you better believe I would do my best to "to God's work", because thats what Christians do.

That's theocracy, and that has no place in the United States.

Modest Me · 05-10-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shawn

That's theocracy, and that has no place in the United States.

I guess its a good thing I'm president then, huh? What do you expect people to do? Check their religion at the Whitehouse door? If that was a requirement, no self-respecting Christian would even run.

Shawn · 05-10-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modest Me

Check their religion at the Whitehouse door?

Quote:

Originally Posted by US constitution

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion

God may be all-powerful, but he does not belong in the US government. It is dangerous to have scripture ruling a country.

A Vaulter's Insanity · 05-10-2008, 02:29 PM

Scripture rules about every country thats ever existed. We dont know whats its like to not have scripture ruling. Wait maybe we do..communist? Or is it Totalitarian? fascist? I dont know, I always get confused between those 3. But America hated them all so we have a biased towards it. So yea, basically we dont know what a sane government with out scriptures is like.

We should have listened to George Washington about political parties. The results dont surprise me at all. Ive hated parties for a while now. What we need is for everyone to have their own party and not let anyone else in.

Modest Me · 05-10-2008, 02:30 PM

That statement was made to protect the church- not destroy it, like people have been trying to do lately.
The world was a better place when religion wasn't hated with a blind, dumb, sad passion.

(Atheism is a religion too, but people act like its not.)
I feel sorry for atheists, I really do.

But this is all off topic. I'm not talking about this anymore.
Neither of us will ever agree with the other.

Shawn · 05-10-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

That statement was made to protect the church

It was made to separate church and state. Because, unlike many, deists understand that religion does not rule well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modest Me

(Atheism is a religion too, but people act like its not.)
I feel sorry for atheists, I really do.

Don't, because atheism is the absence of religion, and people live with it just fine.

Quote:

Wait maybe we do..communist? Or is it Totalitarian? fascist?

You don't have to be communist to keep religion out of government. It's perfectly possible to make laws that are based on need and ethics, not on scripture. Communism keeps religion out of society. It's different.

Modest Me · 05-10-2008, 03:04 PM

Atheism is the religion of an absence of a higher power or absence of God.
And I do feel sorry for them.
What could be scarier than the thought that when you die- theres nothing?
Non-existence is the scariest thing I've ever heard of, it scared me even back when I was atheist.

I'm comforted by the thought of an after-life, and no one can take that comfort away from me.

BUT for a change in subject- I have a theory that in 15 years or less, this country will be a socialist country. THAT is what makes me emotional about politics. That is what keeps me interested.
((I probably only feel this way because I watch way too much Glenn Beck.. Man, hes the most pessimistic person ever. Hes kinda cute when he wears his glasses, though.))

A-L · 05-10-2008, 04:49 PM

Religion shoud be best left out of government and law altogether. MM I would like to know though (as I'm always fascinated to know) why, if you mind me asking, would someone who fears the rise of socialism in this country want to vote republican? And also, what made you republican or at least interested in the parties views? Seeing that you are voting republican I take it that you support John Mccain?