Are conservatives really less fearful than liberals?

[Anonymous]

During the pandemic, a common refrain from conservatives was "I refuse to live in fear." But then they fear Chinese bioweapons, trans kids, 15 minute cities, dead electors casting votes, microchips in vaccines etc.

[Anonymous]

Former liberal now centrist/right. I don't think it's accurate to say that the right fears trans, gay, etc. That said, I wasn't fearful as a liberal either. I think some people are high anxiety and most aren't. But, the demographics associated with leftist politics, by their own description, are more likely to have anxiety and mental illness.

[Anonymous]

Polling consistently finds that on average Republicans are happier and less depressed than Democrats. I suppose it’s possible that these people are happier and less mentally ill while at the same time being more fearful but it seems unlikely.

Republicans do generally have a more pessimistic understanding of human nature so perhaps that is what OP is alluding to.

[Anonymous]

Ignorance is bliss.

The most vocal “I won’t live in fear” person I know says it with so much anxiety, it’s palpable.

[Anonymous]

Anecdotal, but my experience is that many conservatives and this is more true of MAGAs than traditional (libertarian) conservatives is that they are afraid of anyone not white, not straight etc.

Scared of black people and cities.
Scared of "immigrants" eventhough their families were all immigrants at one time.
Don't like "foreign" food.
Don't like people on bikes or scooters.

I could go on, but the OP above nailed it - anything that isn't defined by "their" American is something to be scared of. And Fox/Hannity/Rush etc play on this every.single.day.

[Anonymous]

Yes, polls show that conservatives have better mental health than liberals - decreased anxiety and depression rates, more friendships and wider social networks, higher self reported happiness ratings. It’s very consistent in the research.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, polls show that conservatives have better mental health than liberals - decreased anxiety and depression rates, more friendships and wider social networks, higher self reported happiness ratings. It’s very consistent in the research.

+1

This also anecdotally matches my experience.

[Anonymous]

Republicans are afraid of everything, including dozens of paranoid delusions that are not true. Their weak loser leader is terrified of batteries and wind turbines and ramps and ballots and everyone that he can’t bribe or bully.

[Anonymous]

Ignorance is bliss for sure!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, polls show that conservatives have better mental health than liberals - decreased anxiety and depression rates, more friendships and wider social networks, higher self reported happiness ratings. It’s very consistent in the research.

+1

It all has to do with one's outlook on life. Conservatives emphasize the individual, while Liberals emphasize the collective. Take away the collective, you lose your psychological safety net.

[Anonymous]

Ignorance is not bliss. Studies show that liberal beliefs are more associated with high IQ than conservative beliefs.

https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/62392/1/intelligent-people-are-more-likely-to-be-left-wing-iq-politics-says-science

https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/high-iq-genetics-politics/

https://theconversation.com/do-smart-people-tend-to-be-more-liberal-yes-but-it-doesnt-mean-all-conservatives-are-stupid-57713

There are also studies showing that higher IQs are associated with greater happiness.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22998852/

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/abs/relationship-between-happiness-and-intelligent-quotient-the-contribution-of-socioeconomic-and-clinical-factors/852640AC984DB7EC623D9D2C1A2D0A5A

https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/if-youre-happy-youre-probably-really-smart-science-says-so.html

[Anonymous]

My conservative sisters are afraid. They have persecution complexes (the blacks and immigrants are out to get us white Christians!) And they have these whack job ideas. One thought she needed a gun... because the liberals are coming! She lives in the deep South.

Neither of them are very worldly or thoughtful.

I didn't grow up with them and I am more grateful for that every day.

[Anonymous]

No, conservatives are more fearful than liberals. Literally, the fear centers in their brains are larger.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/conservative-and-liberal-brains-might-have-some-real-differences/

[Anonymous]

Studies have shown that conservatives are actually more fearful -- of the unknown, of changes, of perceived danger -- than liberals who are more open to things such as change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ignorance is not bliss. Studies show that liberal beliefs are more associated with high IQ than conservative beliefs.

https://www.dazeddigital.com/life-culture/article/62392/1/intelligent-people-are-more-likely-to-be-left-wing-iq-politics-says-science

https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/high-iq-genetics-politics/

https://theconversation.com/do-smart-people-tend-to-be-more-liberal-yes-but-it-doesnt-mean-all-conservatives-are-stupid-57713

There are also studies showing that higher IQs are associated with greater happiness.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22998852/

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/abs/relationship-between-happiness-and-intelligent-quotient-the-contribution-of-socioeconomic-and-clinical-factors/852640AC984DB7EC623D9D2C1A2D0A5A

https://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/if-youre-happy-youre-probably-really-smart-science-says-so.html

Maybe but there are actually a lot of studies showing conservatives are happier.