Chris Mooney provides a careful argument, based on recent cognitive science experiments, that people who are inclined to be politically conservative will approach facts and data in a fundamentally different way than people who are inclined to be politically liberal.

Mooney will talk and sign books at the December WASH MDC Chapter Meeting
Rm2 at the Wheaton Regional Library in Silver Spring, Maryland

See http://www.facebook.com/events/173970549413578/

Chris Mooney is a science and political journalist, blogger, podcaster, and experienced trainer of scientists in the art of communication. He is the author of four books, including the New York Times bestselling The Republican War on Science. He blogs for “Science Progress,” a website of the Center for American Progress and Center for American Progress Action Fund.

Is it reasonable to expect that Mooney take that knowledge
from Jonathan Haidt? Haidt has this book “The Rightheous Mind”

Seems to be the same way to explain it. Haidt being the researcher
and Mooney the Journalist. No criticiism just want people to read Haidt too

I haven’t read Mooney’s book, but Haidt’s “The Righteous Mind” is very good. Well, at least the first two thirds are—the last part about group selection is nonsense.

Might want to check out John Deans book Conservatives Without Conscience.  He too quotes several studies that came to the same conclusion… conservatives tend to favor obedience, hierarchy, and black/white thinking, and tend to lack intelligence overall. Which is something I think most of us knew, but it’s nice to see it supported by evidence.

CuthbertJ - 28 November 2012 10:58 AM

Conservatives…tend to lack intelligence overall. Which is something I think most of us knew, but it’s nice to see it supported by evidence.

Depends on whom you include when you do the study. If you take a group of conservative kids from a university and another group of liberals from the same school, I imagine the liberal group will be smarter. But overall, including all the people in the U.S., I doubt the liberals are on average smarter than the conservatives.

FredW - 28 November 2012 04:15 AM

Is it reasonable to expect that Mooney take that knowledge
from Jonathan Haidt? Haidt has this book “The Rightheous Mind”

Seems to be the same way to explain it. Haidt being the researcher
and Mooney the Journalist. No criticiism just want people to read Haidt too

got any good links?

citizenschallenge.pm - 28 November 2012 09:26 PM

FredW - 28 November 2012 04:15 AM

Is it reasonable to expect that Mooney take that knowledge
from Jonathan Haidt? Haidt has this book “The Rightheous Mind”

Seems to be the same way to explain it. Haidt being the researcher
and Mooney the Journalist. No criticiism just want people to read Haidt too

got any good links?

Yes sorry
His University home page
Haidts et al on moral foundation research

“The righteous mind” by Jonathan Haidt

So will be interesting to get a report on what Mooney don’t agree with Haidt upon
and what Mooney suggest instead.

I surely would love to get even better descriptions on what goes on in politicians.

Thanks Fred, I’ll look at them.

Does anyone know if Mooney’s talk will be recorded and made available on the internet?