# The Research Is In: Pubbies Are Born That Way! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 21, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087 "2007-04-21T18:24:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/1 "2007-04-21T18:24:49Z")
> **[A Case of Catch-22](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/200211/a-case-of-catch-22?page=1)** > > There is a fundamental impairment in areas of the brain that support motivation, energy, and hope in depressed individuals. This makes it more difficult for them to recover without help. > [@](#): > > …Most people are surprised to learn that there are real, stable differences in personality between conservatives and liberals—not just different views or values, but underlying differences in temperament. Psychologists John Jost of New York University, Dana Carney of Harvard, and Sam Gosling of the University of Texas have demonstrated that conservatives and liberals boast markedly different home and office decor. Liberals are messier than conservatives, their rooms have more clutter and more color, and they tend to have more travel documents, maps of other countries, and flags from around the world. Conservatives are neater, and their rooms are cleaner, better organized, more brightly lit, and more conventional. Liberals have more books, and their books cover a greater variety of topics… Wouldn’t say “messier”, really, just improvisational in matters of household structure. The floor isn’t a laundry hamper until it becomes one, then it is. But, moving right along… > [@](#): > > …In 1969, Berkeley professors Jack and Jeanne Block embarked on a study of childhood personality, asking nursery school teachers to rate children’s temperaments. They weren’t even thinking about political orientation. > > Twenty years later, they decided to compare the subjects’ childhood personalities with their political preferences as adults. They found arresting patterns. As kids, liberals had developed close relationships with peers and were rated by their teachers as self-reliant, energetic, impulsive, and resilient. People who were conservative at age 23 had been described by their teachers as easily victimized, easily offended, indecisive, fearful, rigid, inhibited, and vulnerable at age 3. The reason for the difference, the Blocks hypothesized, was that insecure kids most needed the reassurance of tradition and authority, and they found it in conservative politics… 1. College professors in Berzerkely. Kinda writes itself. “…easily victimized, easily offended, indecisive, fearful, rigid, inhibited, and vulnerable…” as compared with “…self-reliant, energetic, impulsive, and resilient…” Well, yeah! Pity the sample is so limited, demographically. Radicals are all that and then some, liberals are just Totally Cool Lite. Anyway, just wanted to let you know, the research is in, they can’t help it, they were born that way. Feel better myself, now, all those years of guilt thinking its because I dropped my baby brother on his head made him such a dick. We can now turn our attention to modes of therapy and intervention, to rescue our misbegotten brethren and sistren from the dark coils of error. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/2 "2007-04-21T18:52:18Z")
And that’s why the liberals think that big government is the solution to all our problems - because they’re “self-reliant, energetic, impulsive, and resilient”. Whereas the conservatives, who value freedom and prefer that government avoid intruding in our lives as much as possible (for better or for worse), are the ones who are “easily victimized, easily offended, indecisive, fearful, rigid, inhibited, and vulnerable”. Note that I am not talking about Democrats or Republicans here - for some reason, both parties have turned into half-liberal, half-conservative hypocrites. But come on, this is just utter self-indulgent bullshit for liberals. Conservatives also tend to have more money. Which is odd, because ‘self-reliant, energetic, impulsive and resilient’ types are exactly the kind of people who do well in business. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/3 "2007-04-21T18:52:42Z")
Oddly, I had all the traits described in “conservative” children; I was stand-offish, easily victimized, etc. And people who meet me for the first time think I am conservative. Then they get to know me, and change their mind. If this were the 1930s, I’d probably be a socialist labor organizer. The only issue I’m conservative on is gun control. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/4 "2007-04-21T19:00:04Z")
[QUOTE=Absolute] And that’s why the liberals think that big government is the solution to all our problems - because they’re “self-reliant, energetic, impulsive, and resilient”. Whereas the conservatives, who value freedom and prefer that government avoid intruding in our lives as much as possible [/QUOTE] Is that actually true, at least within the current structure of U.S. politics? you dismiss both of the major parties, but be honest, what typically describes a “conservative” in the USA - libertarian leanings, or Christian conservatism? ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/5 "2007-04-21T19:01:35Z")
I got halfway through, and figured “it’s gotta be Berkely.” And it was. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/6 "2007-04-21T19:06:42Z")
So, are we talking **genetic** differences here? Maybe conservatism can be cured! Or at least prevented! Through [eugenics!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=415728)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CaerieD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@CaerieD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaerieD)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/7 "2007-04-21T19:26:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Maybe conservatism can be cured! Or at least prevented! Now there’s an excellent question to ask my friends who are anti-abortion except when it comes to certain birth defects. Would it be ethical to abort your fetus if testing found it to be genetically liberal? Hmmm. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/8 "2007-04-21T19:26:03Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] I got halfway through, and figured “it’s gotta be Berkely.” And it was. [/QUOTE] Ahem. > [@](#): > > …Psychologists John Jost of New York University, Dana Carney of Harvard, and Sam Gosling of the University of Texas have demonstrated… ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/9 "2007-04-21T21:02:36Z")
A little late on this one, **luci**. **Quiddity Glomfuster** [beat you to it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8369968&postcount=114). And what **Absolute** said, which was my immediate thought upon reading the study when I first saw it, causing me to wonder at just what point in life liberal/conservative personality traits reversed themselves. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/10 "2007-04-21T21:08:16Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] A little late on this one, **luci**. **Quiddity Glomfuster** [beat you to it](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8369968&postcount=114). [/QUOTE] Do note, however, that I linked to several similar studies, not just one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/11 "2007-04-21T21:14:25Z")
[QUOTE=Lizard] Oddly, I had all the traits described in “conservative” children; I was stand-offish, easily victimized, etc. And people who meet me for the first time think I am conservative. Then they get to know me, and change their mind. If this were the 1930s, I’d probably be a socialist labor organizer. The only issue I’m conservative on is gun control. [/QUOTE] And my politics tend to skew conservative on a lot of things(because I make it a point to be informed, not lead by the jerking knee), and I’m “self-reliant, energetic, impulsive, and resilient.” Less impulsive than I used to be, but I put that down to maturity more than anything else. You and I are just two datum points on a long continuum, but I suspect that we represent the actual value of this “study”-bupkis. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/12 "2007-04-21T21:16:46Z")
> [@](#): > > Liberals are messier than conservatives, their rooms have more clutter … Aha! That explains everything. I’m not a bad housekeeper I’m just liberal as hell! Thanks luci, I feel better now, too. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/13 "2007-04-21T21:22:36Z")
[QUOTE=Quiddity Glomfuster] Do note, however, that I linked to several similar studies, not just one. 😉 [/QUOTE] Indeed you did, and that’s why I elected to link to your entire post, not just the one study. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c4cdca/32.png) [@Quiddity\_Glomfuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quiddity_Glomfuster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/14 "2007-04-21T21:27:32Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] Indeed you did, and that’s why I elected to link to your entire post, not just the one study. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Thank you kindly - nice of you to remember 🙂 I had to …um… like… search on the Internet using my fingers and everything to find them, after all 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Denis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@Denis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Denis)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/15 "2007-04-21T22:12:02Z")
Starving and QG, why don’t you two get a room? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/16 "2007-04-21T22:21:34Z")
Oh, don’t be such a kill-joy! Hell, it’s spring, longs they don’t scare the horses… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/17 "2007-04-21T22:21:38Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] Aha! That explains everything. I’m not a bad housekeeper I’m just liberal as hell! Thanks luci, I feel better now, too. [/QUOTE] I’m not broke, I’m financially challenged! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/18 "2007-04-21T22:25:24Z")
Boy, there’s nothing some people hate around here more than two Dopers being friendly with each other. Some of the most long-standing animus I’ve come in for around here has come from my complimenting or supporting or liking another poster and saying so. (_cough_ **Lib/Zoe** _cough_) Jealousy, perhaps, given that the complainers rarely have anyone throwing bouquets their way? ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/19 "2007-04-21T22:27:27Z")
Wow, I really am a bad person if I let the dishes go until tomorrow? What a hard-hitting wake up call. Great thread. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Denis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@Denis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Denis)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2007, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087/20 "2007-04-21T23:04:43Z")
Wow. **elucudator** responded to my joke appropriately. **Starving** , not so much. (hit return on last edit) eta to add: carry on, and damn dude! don’t be so bloody thin-skinned. 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-research-is-in-pubbies-are-born-that-way/401087.md?page=2)