Why Conservatives Are Happier Than Liberals

Why are conservatives happier than liberals? Researcher John Jost (seems like a happy guy) and Jaime Napier know the answer:

Regardless of marital status, income or church attendance, right-wing individuals reported greater life satisfaction and well-being than left-wingers, the new study found.

Conservatives also scored highest on measures of rationalization, which gauge a person's tendency to justify, or explain away, inequalities.

The rationalization measure included statements such as: "It is not really that big a problem if some people have more of a chance in life than others," and "This country would be better off if we worried less about how equal people are."

The secret to conservative's happiness, it turns out, is all in their conservativeness!

If your beliefs don't justify gaps in status, you could be left frustrated and disheartened, according to the researchers, Jaime Napier and John Jost of New York University. They conducted both a U.S.-centric survey and a more internationally focused one to arrive at the findings.

"Our research suggests that inequality takes a greater psychological toll on liberals than on conservatives," the researchers write in the June issue of the journal Psychological Science, "apparently because liberals lack ideological rationalizations that would help them frame inequality in a positive (or at least neutral) light."

Link - via The Evangelical Outpost


Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

I read this article in it's entirety, along with all the comments. Coming from a neutral standpoint, the conservatives didn't have to comment at all! The liberal commentators did an outstanding job of proving the article correct, with their name-calling and angry replies. Very few had any relavant arguements, straying off topic, accusing conservatives of not caring, which the article doesn't say at all! It claims conservatives accept the fact that there ARE differences between us! Some are content asking for money on the streets, some are not. Some are content earning 50k a year, some demand more! Conservatives see it as that is a choice we make, & liberals think that everyone wants to be equal, & if we're not, then someone is to blame, & life won't be right until we are all the same.

My POV is, If you're always blaming someone for everybody elses mistakes or choices, you're going to be miserable! It's when you start taking your own life into your own hands & start worrying about what you do instead of what everyone else is doing, is when you might start being happy.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
cool, that explains it all. Libs interalize things they can do nothing about, such that it eats their guts out, conservative realize that's just the way things are, and get on with their lives.

An accurate sense of reality does make for good mental health, wot?
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Pete,

I am talking about non-Muslims treatment in Islamic dominated countries. Something you obviously don't care about or even know about it seems, and all you can do in response is try to attack me personally. Lame.
Along with your fellow 'liberal' who criticises my spelling, instead of discussing the issue I brought up.
Lame as well.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.




Email This Post to a Friend
"Why Conservatives Are Happier Than Liberals"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More