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Spankers for McCain?
Correlation does not equal causation, and all that, but this is a pretty interesting graph.
This comes from an in-the-works book about authoritarianism and polarization in American politics. Here’s the explanation from one of the authors:
In states with lower percentages of people that endorse spanking and washing kids’ mouths out with soap, which is the case in New England and much of the Middle Atlantic, Obama did very well. In states with higher percentages, like Wyoming, Idaho, and Alabama, McCain won big. Even the states that fall somewhat far from the trend line are usually easy to explain. For example, Hawaii, Illinois, and Alaska are all favorite son or daughter states. Several states that are below the line, like Nevada, Indiana, and Ohio, are states that have usually voted Republican in the past.
Of course, we don’t think that spanking kids causes people to vote Republican. We do, however, show in the book that those who view the world in hierarchical terms, a worldview consistent with using physical means to discipline children, are now much more likely to vote Republican. In contrast, those who view the world in more horizontal terms favor Democratic candidates. The psychological terms that match these colliding worldviews are authoritarianism and nonauthoritarianism, which we measure by asking people about their child rearing preferences. Those who favor obedience over self-reliance and respect for elders over independence score high in authoritarianism. Those who favor the reverse are the nonauthoritarians.
I’m not sure that spanking is the best variable for measuring authoritarian views, which the authors say “captures, at its core, a person’s need for order, including a strong preference for cognitive certitude.” But I think the point about certitude—do you prefer black-and-white or grayscale?—aligning with political preference is pretty spot on.
And by that I mean it seems fairly accurate given my own personal experience and limited knowledge of the topic, but I’m open to other possibilities and unwilling to rule out alternative explanations.
Cross-posted at Ablogistan.
10 Responses to “Spankers for McCain?”
On the other hand, there may be an affinity between “corporal” punishment and McCain's military background.
So their may be a correlation between parents who are unwilling to discipline their children and a vote for Obama. What a shock. By the way, the opposite of authority is anarchy, not “nonauthoritarian”. The latter is a marketing term coined by liberals and no doubt reflects their bias. Why not use equally weighted pejorative terms? Are there any conservative or moderate psychologists left or has the purge been completed?
there, not their — I hate that trying to edit on Disqus sends me into an endless loop every time. Apologies.
Not so much in favor of spanking children as I am for adults. Caning cell phone drivers on the spot by police caning crews seems a reasonable response to the danger they put us all in. There is much to be said for order within a society. Self centered Bohemianism is really destructive.
As for how this ties into Senator McCain, I’m not sure, but my father served under his father in WWII and well, here I am! My father survived many battles defending against Japanese capital punishment campaigns.
Senator McCain, survived many years of beatings at the hands of the North Vietnamese. We should study how he did it rather than associate the other.
Still beating your wife eh?
So, more conservative people voted for McCain. Next, they'll prove conclusively that the sun appears more often in the morning than at any other time of the day.
I think Water is wet is the next proof they will try for.
“Why not use equally weighted pejorative terms?”
Like “Moderate,” in this liberal Web site's name?
* * *
“So their may be a correlation between parents who are unwilling to discipline their children and a vote for Obama”
That's the real issue that's exposed here.
But then, these are the same people that cannot stand being told “no” to more goodies by government or by anybody else. Tell them “no” and let the fidgeting, the unease, the runrest, the unreptions begin.
“trying to edit on Disqus”
Typos once in a while are bad enough…
Sometimes it seems that way, but other times it doesn't so bad. Just some of the furthest Left Voices like Kathy and Dorian are prolific. I have no problem with this so long as there is a conservative counterbalance. A few months ago it was severely lacking, but has made a comeback recently. With A government controlled entirely by Democrats Conservatives are getting a lot more material.