[WS:] I mean their brain connections are wired in a way that favors that kind of response. For one thing, people with low tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity are naturally attracted to authoritarian ideologies that give them a sense of certitude. For another thing, brain connections are shaped by experiences (i.e. socialization) to a significant degree. It is called neuroplasticity and it results in behavioral patterns that are very difficult (if it all possible) to unlearn (btw, the distinction nature vs nurture is a false dichotomy, thanks to the discovery of neuroplasticity.)
It seems that sucking up to people with high social status, even at the expense of self interest, and basing people with low social status is a universal trait.
Wojtek
On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 7:03 AM, brad bauerly <bbauerly at gmail.com> wrote:
> >[WS:] You are right. Thomas Frank ("what's the matter with kansas")
> describes this quite convincingly. But that only begs the question "Why?"
> I do not think it is just following demagogy. People "do the dirty work
> for the haves" not because they are bamboozled, but because they obtain
> some
> emotional gratification from it. It is like medieval mobs cheering a
> public
> execution of one of their own.
>
> I am tempted to conjecture that this "responsibility toward above,
> authority
> toward below" attitude is hard wired in the brains of a great number if not
> most people. Bashing those "below" gives them a form of katarsis for them.
> Wojtek
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Let's not leave out that historically in the US it has also given them a
> bit
> more ching ching in their pockets. I don't quite know what you mean by
> hard
> wired, but if you mean ingrained through socialization, I can agree with
> it.
>
> Brad
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