An article in The Guardian recently
covered a study that was done by
the University of Cambridge which
details the relationship between
those with extremist views and
their ability to perform complex
mental tasks.
Now the study built on previous
research included more than 330 US
based participants, ages 22 to 63,
who were exposed to a battery of
tests.
37 neuro psychological tasks and 22
personality surveys over the course
of two weeks.
So that's some of the methodology
in this study.
There were some specific tasks that
all detailed now the tasks
were engineered to be neutral,
meaning that this wasn't emotional
or political.
For instance, they
involved memorizing visual shapes.
The researchers then used
computational modelling to extract
information from that data about
the participants perception and
learning and their
ability to engage in complex and
strategic mental processing.
Now according to the way this was
written about in The Guardian Peace
people with extremist views think
of the world in black and whites.
And they struggled with these
complex tasks, that were given to
them during this testing, right?
The article itself, as you can see
here, uses people with extremist
views making you think that there
wasn't really a distinction between
which extremists we're talking
about here.
But then if you actually read
the study, [LAUGH] it says that
conservatism and
nationalism were related to greater
caution in the perceptual
decision making tasks and to reduce
strategic information processing.
While dogmatic dogmatism was
associated with slower
evidence accumulation and
impulsive tendencies.
Extreme pro-group attitudes
including violence endorsement
against outgroups,
were linked to poor working memory.
Slower perceptual strategies and
tendencies toward impulsivity and
sensation seeking reflecting
overlaps with the psychological
profiles of conservatism and
dogmatism.
So, my guess obviously I'm
speculating here is that
The Guardian didn't want to upset
conservative readers if they have
conservative readers.
But when you read the details of
this study there was a pretty clear
distinction regarding right wing
extremism and how those extremists
tended to have a difficult time
completing these mental tasks.
>> So look,
I beat up on servers all the time.
I've got hundreds of pages in my
upcoming book Justice is Coming,
talking about how they're not that
bright, they're prone to violence,
etc.
But now the size is starting to be
overwhelming to the point where I'm
starting to feel bad.
No, there's something wrong with
them and so that you can put it in
scientific terms.
And in this case, for example,
reduced strategic information
processing, you know that means?
Not that bright.
Okay.
That's what it means that's fancy
words for they just can't think
rationally That's reduced strategic
information processing, okay?
They can't process information in
a way that is strategic.
They have problems with risk
perception.
You know what that means?
That means they're afraid,
now what did I tell you?
We talk about it all the time,
because every study confirms it,
among the top two emotions that
conservatives have is fear.
So that's why they're
fearful of the others.
My God. The immigrants are going to
come in cross the border.
I'm so scared, black people
are going to come to the suburbs.
I'm so scared.
Trans people are going to go
into bathrooms.
I'm so scared, we're going to
attack the foreigners.
I'm so scared.
Scared, scared,
scared because they have problems
with a risk perception.
It's it's in their heads and
I'm beginning to think
it's a literal disability.
That's why the progressive enemies
kicking in, I don't
know how we help them but they're
they're not processing right.
And then the when it comes
to impulsivity,
that's what leads to the violence
says they have trouble processing.
They get super frustrated and
they're fearful.
So what do they do?
They strike out.
So, the conservative mind is
a scary place to be.
And by the way,
this is not about America guys.
The same exact characteristics are
through the right wing in the other
country that I lived in, Turkey.
Right wing acts in
the same exact way.
And by the way,
they also then since they can't
process information,
they give up their decision making
to an authoritarian figure.
And the size backs up.
They're more prone to
authoritarianism, because I don't
know what I'm doing,
I guess their leader must know.
And what do we see what Trump?
What do you see with Erevan?
What do you see with Putin?
What do you see with Netanyahu?
What do you see with Balsa Narrow?
The right wing always gives up
their own volition because
they're so afraid.
That's who they are.