I think the study suggests that liberals are more likely to be responsive to their environment. That is... "sensitive" in one way or the other. Which (now that I think about it) fits with Kerry's recent comment about a more sensitive approach to fighting terrorism. And it's probably also important to consider that it may not necessarily be that the more active amygdala leads to more liberal political ideology. Causality could be in the other direction... like being liberal is a way of exercising your amygdala... then I started to think... what about those "knee-jerk" ("I know what to do and here I go...") attitudes of many conservatives (probably related to that sense of moral righteousness). Again, I think it's just that their sensitivity comes in spurts... and that has to do with being quick to act, but not quick to feel and truly "respond" in the full sense of the word. In any case, thinking about what it truly *means* to be a liberal or conservative probably has a lot to do with *change* and how readily we embrace change. If the amygdala is all about emotion and emotion leads to action (for or against something, fight/flight, approach/avoidance) then those who really consider whether to act or not would fit with those who have an active amygdala...? maybe?
Slashdot Mirror
I think the study suggests that liberals are more likely to be responsive to their environment. That is... "sensitive" in one way or the other. Which (now that I think about it) fits with Kerry's recent comment about a more sensitive approach to fighting terrorism. And it's probably also important to consider that it may not necessarily be that the more active amygdala leads to more liberal political ideology. Causality could be in the other direction... like being liberal is a way of exercising your amygdala... then I started to think... what about those "knee-jerk" ("I know what to do and here I go...") attitudes of many conservatives (probably related to that sense of moral righteousness). Again, I think it's just that their sensitivity comes in spurts... and that has to do with being quick to act, but not quick to feel and truly "respond" in the full sense of the word. In any case, thinking about what it truly *means* to be a liberal or conservative probably has a lot to do with *change* and how readily we embrace change. If the amygdala is all about emotion and emotion leads to action (for or against something, fight/flight, approach/avoidance) then those who really consider whether to act or not would fit with those who have an active amygdala...? maybe?