The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science—and Reality
by Chris C. Mooney
View on GoodreadsWhy do American conservatives more often reject mainstream findings on climate change, evolution, economics and history? Chris Mooney, a science journalist, looks for the answer in psychology, linking political outlook to Big Five personality traits, research on threat responses and brain imaging, and motivated reasoning.
Core ideas
- Two temperaments: The research he draws on finds conservatives leaning toward certainty, loyalty and decisiveness, and liberals toward openness, nuance and complexity.
- Asymmetric denial: Each orientation has strengths and weaknesses, but science denial runs asymmetrically, and the case material includes a doomsday cult that kept believing after its prophecy failed.
- A fight of its own: Paul Krugman endorsed the thesis, conservative critics including Jonah Goldberg attacked it, and Mooney answered them with published rebuttals.
Published2007
Pages336
ISBN9781118094518
ReadMay 2022
