Liberals and Conservatives React in Wildly Different Ways to Repulsive Pictures
In short, a study was made to show test subjects a wide range of images from “nice to “threatening” and “revolting” while giving the subjects brain scans. Along with other studies, the conclusion *seems clear: you can tell someones political leanings based on the way they respond to “disgust:” conservative-leaning folks show more of it, it seems. One study tested taste, and even there there seems to be a difference:
They recruited 1,601 subjects from shopping malls and from the Cornell campus and gave them paper strips containing a chemical called Prop and another chemical called PTC, both of which taste bitter to some people. Sure enough, those who had self-identified as being conservative were more sensitive to both compounds; many described them as unpleasant or downright repugnant. Liberals, on the other hand, tended not to be bothered as much by the chemicals or didn’t notice them at all.
On one hand I can kinda see this. But then… on the other hand I see contrary indicators. For example, a few days ago I drove into town, passing necessarily through farm countries. At one house there was a mobile slaughter truck, something you’re unlikely to see in an urban area. Short form, there was a cow hanging from it, in the process of being butchered. Now, you do this sort of thing out here in the sticks. surrounded by folks *likely* to be conservative, they will pass by and be largely unmoved… with the possible exception of responses like “that reminds me, I’ve got to get them to swing by my place” or “Huh. I’m hungry for a hamburger.” But you do the exact same thing in the middle of a gaggle of liberal cityfolk, they’re likely the freak the fark out. So… disgust” is a variably-definable concept.
It seems to go the other way as well: subjecting someone to disgusting images, scents and surroundings seems to sway opinions in a conservative direction. This would suggest campaign ad possibilities: for the 2020 elections, the republicans can make sure to tie the Democrats support of the “Green New Deal” to Ocasio-Cortez, and then show people images of what happens when nations adopt the economic policies that she – and by extension the guilty-by-association Democrats – are pushing for. Societal collapse, mass starvation, populations in filth and fear often make for some pretty disgusting images.