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Conservatives and liberals have similar physiological responses to threats

Author

Listed:
  • Bert N. Bakker

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Gijs Schumacher

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Claire Gothreau

    (Rutgers University)

  • Kevin Arceneaux

    (Temple University)

Abstract

About a decade ago, a study documented that conservatives have stronger physiological responses to threatening stimuli than liberals. This work launched an approach aimed at uncovering the biological roots of ideology. Despite wide-ranging scientific and popular impact, independent laboratories have not replicated the study. We conducted a pre-registered direct replication (n = 202) and conceptual replications in the United States (n = 352) and the Netherlands (n = 81). Our analyses do not support the conclusions of the original study, nor do we find evidence for broader claims regarding the effect of disgust and the existence of a physiological trait. Rather than studying unconscious responses as the real predispositions, alignment between conscious and unconscious responses promises deeper insights into the emotional roots of ideology.

Suggested Citation

  • Bert N. Bakker & Gijs Schumacher & Claire Gothreau & Kevin Arceneaux, 2020. "Conservatives and liberals have similar physiological responses to threats," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 4(6), pages 613-621, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:4:y:2020:i:6:d:10.1038_s41562-020-0823-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-020-0823-z
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    Cited by:

    1. Byron D'Andra Orey & Najja Baptist & Valeria Sinclair‐Chapman, 2021. "Racial identity and emotional responses to confederate symbols," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(4), pages 1882-1893, July.
    2. Meng-Jie Wang & Kumar Yogeeswaran & Sivanand Sivaram & Kyle Nash, 2021. "Examining spread of emotional political content among Democratic and Republican candidates during the 2018 US mid-term elections," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Xavier Fernández-i-Marín & Carolin H Rapp & Christian Adam & Oliver James & Anita Manatschal, 2021. "Discrimination against mobile European Union citizens before and during the first COVID-19 lockdown: Evidence from a conjoint experiment in Germany," European Union Politics, , vol. 22(4), pages 741-761, December.
    4. Jordan Mansell, 2020. "Causation and Behavior: The Necessity and Benefits of Incorporating Evolutionary Thinking into Political Science," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 101(5), pages 1677-1698, September.
    5. Anna Klas & Edward J. R. Clarke & Kelly Fielding & Matthew Mackay & Susanne Lohmann & Mathew Ling, 2022. "Investigating how economic and national identity loss messages impact climate change policy support," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 175(3), pages 1-24, December.

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