Scientists Scanned the Brains of Authoritarians and Found Something Weird (futurism.com)

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[-] Morbid@hexbear.net 10 points 1 day ago

Surprisingly the study isn't paywalled https://www.ibroneuroscience.org/article/S0306-4522(25)00304-5/fulltext

[-] Sickos@hexbear.net 14 points 1 day ago

[T]he key trait linked to LWA is anxiety, especially in relation to the AHA and AC subscales (r = 0.30 and 0.31, respectively). This relationship is not surprising, given that LWA has been associated with neuroticism and higher sensitivity toward threatening situations and grievance

Ok nevermind they understand me completely

[-] ihaveibs@hexbear.net 12 points 1 day ago

People unhappy with the world want to change it? What a fucking mind-blowing discovery

[-] Morbid@hexbear.net 8 points 1 day ago

On the other hand, and less studied, Left-Wing Authoritarianism (LWA) has gained increasing relevance within the social and behavioral sciences. Recent advances have been made in understanding authoritarian attitudes among left-leaning individuals and groups across diverse sociopolitical contexts and languages (see Conway et al., 2018; Conway & McFarland, 2019; De Regt et al., 2011; Fasce & Avenda˜no, 2023; Manson, 2020; Van Hiel et al., 2006).

In fact, Costello et al. (2022) have recently made an important contribution on the conceptual elucidation

Can anyone tell me the structural reason why scientists write their papers like this? Do journal editors not take your paper seriously if you're not writing things like "conceptual elucidation"? genuinely curious.

and psychometric measurement of LWA. According to their model, there are three dimensions of LWA: Anti-Hierarchical Aggression, which is the disposition to violently overthrow and penalize the current structures of authority and power in society; Anti-Conventionalism, characterized by a sense of moral superiority and a desire for ideological uniformity within the group; and Top-Down Censorship, the drive to use group authority to coercively and punitively control ideologies and behaviors that do not conform or are not consistent with left-wing standpoints. In the work of Costello et al. (2022), this construct displayed a nomological network reflecting cognitive rigidity, coercive group behavior, and moral absolutism. The same LWA construct has also been linked to support for authoritarian policies and rejection of fundamental civil liberties and rights (Fasce & Avenda˜no, 2022; Manson, 2020).

Left-wing authoritarianism (LWA): We used the Spanish adaptation (Avenda˜no et al., 2022) of the 39-item scale recently developed by Costello et al. (2022). The questionnaire consists of 3 subscales: Anti- hierarchical aggression (LWA AHA), Anti-conventionalism (LWA AC), and Top-down censorship (LWA TDC).

the 39-item scale can be found here: https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fpspp0000341

If any comrade has access through an academic institution or wants to pay $17.95 for the pdf that would be great

[-] Sickos@hexbear.net 12 points 1 day ago

Lol, from your link:

In the present studies, we investigate the nature, structure, and nomological network of left-wing authoritarianism (LWA), a construct famously known as "the Loch Ness Monster" of political psychology.

I knew hexbear was full of cryptids

[-] john_brown@hexbear.net 6 points 1 day ago

bigfoot is a maoist

[-] SkingradGuard@hexbear.net 8 points 1 day ago

Can anyone tell me the structural reason why scientists write their papers like this? Do journal editors not take your paper seriously if you're not writing things like "conceptual elucidation"? genuinely curious.

A lot of reviewers and editors get really mad if you write in any other style

[-] Philosoraptor@hexbear.net 5 points 1 day ago

If any comrade has access through an academic institution or wants to pay $17.95 for the pdf that would be great

https://filebin.net/ylpcwhwbhif6anf0/EBSCO-FullText-04_30_2025.pdf

[-] Sickos@hexbear.net 4 points 1 day ago

ResearchGate has a PDF

[-] Sickos@hexbear.net 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

It was scored agree/disagree on these items, that were then given arbitrary (to me) weights (positive and negative) for "Anti-Hierarchical Aggression", "Anti-Conventionalism", and "Top-Down Censorship":

the inventory:

The rich should be stripped of their belongings and status.
Rich people should be forced to give up virtually all of their wealth.
If I could remake society, I would put people who currently have the most privilege at the very bottom.
America would be much better off if all of the rich people were at the bottom of the social ladder.
When the tables are turned on the oppressors at the top of society, I will enjoy watching them suffer the violence that they have inflicted on so many others.
Most rich Wall Street executives deserve to be thrown in prison.
Constitutions and laws are just another way for the powerful to destroy our dignity and individuality.
The current system is beyond repair.
We need to replace the established order by any means necessary.
Political violence can be constructive when it serves the cause of social justice.
Certain elements in our society must be made to pay for the violence of their ancestors.
If a few of the worst Republican politicians were assassinated, it wouldn't be the end of the world.
I would prefer a far-left leader with absolute authority over a right-wing leader with limited power.
Schools should be required by law to teach children about our country's history of racism, classism, sexism, and homophobia.
Anyone who opposes gay marriage must be homophobic.
Deep down, just about all conservatives are racist, sexist, and homophobic.
People are truly worried about terrorism should shift their focus to the nutjobs on the far-right.
The "old-fashioned ways" and "old-fashioned values" need to be abolished.
Radical and progressive moral values can save our society.
All political conservatives are fools.
I cannot imagine myself becoming friends with a political conservative.
Conservatives are morally inferior to liberals.
It is important that we destroy the West's nationalist, imperialist values.
I try to expose myself to conservative news sources.
There is nothing wrong with Bible camps.
I hate being around non-progressive people.
Classroom discussions should be safe places that protect students from disturbing ideas.
University authorities are right to ban hateful speech from campus.
I should have the right not to be exposed to offensive views.
To succeed, a workplace must ensure that its employees feel safe from criticism.
We must line up behind strong leaders who have the will to stamp out prejudice and intolerance.
When we spend all of our time protecting the right to "free speech" we're protecting the rights of sexists, racists, and homophobes at the cost of marginalized people.
I am in favor of allowing the government to shut down right-wing internet sites and blogs that promote nutty, hateful positions.
Colleges and universities that permit speakers with intolerant views should be publicly condemned.
Getting rid of inequality is more important than protecting the so-called "right" to free speech.
Fox News, right-wing talk radio, and other conservative media outlets should be prohibited from broadcasting their hateful views.
Even books that contain racism or racial language should not be censored.
I don't support shutting down speakers with sexist, homophobic, or racist views.
Neo-Nazis ought to have a legal right to their opinions.