Can Drinking Make You Conservative?

Phony Scott

I found this interesting article via Rolling Stone and was wondering what people think of it? It seems a bit reductive to me, but after a few drinks I'm sure I'll be singing from the same hymn sheet! :pac:

So, a group of political psychologists walks into a bar …

… and no, I’m not going to finish the joke. Enough of them have been told already (even in German) about a provocative study in the latest issue of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin – the conservatism-and-alcohol study.

Let’s get the record straight here: The researchers were actually outside the bar – a bar in New England – where they flagged down exiting patrons with quite the request: Would they get their blood alcohol level tested and fill out a short questionnaire on their political views? Eighty-five of them consented to share their level of agreement with statements like "Production and trade should be free of government interference" and "Ultimately, privately property should be abolished." Then came the breathalyzer.

When the scientists collated the results, it turned out that, on average, the higher the subject's blood alcohol level, the more likely he or she was to express conservative opinions. This was true of liberals and conservatives alike; both groups appeared to shift to the right. (Study here.)

Mr Benevolent

TL;DR. Seriously.

sbsquarepants

More scoops:D

AboutTwoFiddy

That's because alcohol is a depressant.

chin_grin

Confab wrote: »

TL;DR. Seriously.

Group of psychologists start harassing people and inquiring as to their political views as they go in to a bar, hilarity ensues for the name of science.

Seachmall

Alcohol kills brain cells.

benway

Seachmall wrote: »

Alcohol kills brain cells.

And conservatives tend to be less intelligent. Coincidence?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2095549/Right-wingers-intelligent-left-wingers-says-controversial-study--conservative-politics-lead-people-racist.html

biko

Perhaps drunk people express what they really think, once the barriers of PC has been broken down by alcohol?

Seachmall

biko wrote: »

Perhaps drunk people express what they really think, once the barriers of PC has been broken down by alcohol?

This would be it for me, I have some conservative opinions but will typically only argue them when drunk (because they don't really fit with reality).

Logical Fallacy

biko wrote: »

Perhaps drunk people express what they really think, once the barriers of PC has been broken down by alcohol?

Everyone was langers and probably thought they were filling out a Stormfront pop quiz.

"Hey Gar, what did you put down for number 2, blacks or Jews?"
"I wrote down Black Jews".
"****ing genius".

Sky King

benway wrote: »

And conservatives tend to be less intelligent. Coincidence?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2095549/Right-wingers-intelligent-left-wingers-says-controversial-study--conservative-politics-lead-people-racist.html

And you're backing that up with a link to the Daily Mail?

benway

Sky King wrote: »

And you're backing that up with a link to the Daily Mail?

Yup. The Mail trolling their own readership. In the immortal words of Lester Freamon, sometimes life hands you a moment.

Seachmall

Sky King wrote: »

And you're backing that up with a link to the Daily Mail?

Just because it's the Daily Mail doesn't mean it's defacto BS.

Source.

44leto

I am never conservative when it comes to drink, I definitely drink liberally, I am never pragmatic when it comes to alcohol.

fishy fishy

no,but being conservative could drive you to drink. :p

policarp

In vino veritas. . .(sp)

In other words true colours are shown whilst under the influence. . .

Seachmall

policarp wrote: »

In vino veritas. . .(sp)

In other words true colours are shown whilst under the influence. . .

Not for me, I talk shit when drunk because I talk shit when drunk.

I'll get an idea in my head that when sober I know is BS but when drunk I run with it like it's Gospel.

Has led to some embarrassing conversations.