In this episode, we interview Jake Womick and Tom Costello about psychological similarities and differences between liberals and conservatives. Jake is a postdoctoral scholar working with Dr. Kurt Gray at UNC. Tom is working with David Rand at MIT & Gordon Pennycook at University of Regina. We hope you enjoy this conversation.

Manny and Jake's article on this topic.

Evidence that conservatives think differently than liberals:

• Reducing uncertainty & ambiguity
• Wanting order/closure. 
• Emphasizing purity, sanctity & loyalty 
• Rigid thinking
• Viewing threat & danger
• Upholding status quo

Evidence that extremists on both sides:

• See their beliefs as superior
• Avoid exposure to counter-beliefs
• Have motivated disbelief
• Struggle to find flaws in their sides’ arguments
• View information more favorably when it supports their preferences
• Hate each other
• Align with their tribes more than their own beliefs

Other mentions:

• Feldman, 2013
  • Malka, 2017
  • Norris, 2020
  • Pan & Xu, 2018
  • Saucier, 2000
• Conservatives in the US compared to other countries.
• GOP voters change in the Trump era
• Pew data on Black democrats