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okaawhatever

(9,565 posts) Fri Nov 22, 2013, 08:53 AM Nov 2013

Study shows Liberals display "truly false uniqueness", Conservative display "truly false consensus" [View all]

Are liberals their own worst enemy? A new study suggests that may be the case, with its examination of why some political movements succeed and others fail.

The study showed that liberals overestimate the uniqueness of their political beliefs and that they are eager to have views that set them apart from others -- characteristics that might undermine their ability to maintain a cohesive political movement.

The psychologists behind the study said their findings may explain why the Tea Party movement succeeded in gaining lasting traction, while "Occupy Wall Street" fizzled out.

SNIP

Liberals displayed "truly false uniqueness," underestimating the number of other liberals who shared their same beliefs. Moderates and conservatives showed "truly false consensus." That means they overestimated agreement with their beliefs and preferences among their peers, thinking that their own views were more common than they really were.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/21/study-success-failure-political-movements_n_4310626.html

Definitely worth reading only a few additional paragraphs.

39 replies

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Study shows Liberals display "truly false uniqueness", Conservative display "truly false consensus" [View all] okaawhatever Nov 2013 OP

Whatever. hobbit709 Nov 2013 #1

You special snowflake you... Decaffeinated Nov 2013 #28

I can explain why the Tea Party movement succeeded in gaining lasting traction ... Scuba Nov 2013 #2

Occupy didn't connect with the average American. Dash87 Nov 2013 #12

There's an element of truth in your analysis, but it's only a tiny fraction of the picture... Scuba Nov 2013 #15

Many americans also saw occupy from their office Puzzledtraveller Nov 2013 #20

Not really, here is the real difference between the two snooper2 Nov 2013 #25

So if some rich billionaire decided to support Occupy treestar Nov 2013 #30

Not without the media's assistance. But yeah, money drowns out the People's voices. Scuba Nov 2013 #31

What is the way? treestar Nov 2013 #34

Repeal Citizens United, go to 100% publicly-financed elections. Scuba Nov 2013 #35

Interesting. k&r n/t Laelth Nov 2013 #3

The backing of billionaires and the M$M had nothing to do with the Tea Party success Fumesucker Nov 2013 #4

Can you expand on that? pangaia Nov 2013 #7

See post #5 Fumesucker Nov 2013 #10

Of course this has nothing to do with it nadinbrzezinski Nov 2013 #5

I expect this study is going to be very regularly cited by political pundits-- Marr Nov 2013 #32

That's why 1 in 10 posts at DU say something like "Am I the only one who . . . . " el_bryanto Nov 2013 #6

You may have read the idea, unlikely to see it on the M$M or hear it in real life Fumesucker Nov 2013 #9

Yes - but these are often people with high post counts - people who clearly have been here el_bryanto Nov 2013 #14

But they don't *feel* common because of the fact that we don't hear those ideas in real life Fumesucker Nov 2013 #16

+1 ancianita Nov 2013 #19

Aside from the Koch money, the gotp has voters who are authoritarian in nature. They do what okaawhatever Nov 2013 #8

Seems to me that both movements are fading away... TreasonousBastard Nov 2013 #11

Add to that the old saying people vote their pocketbooks treestar Nov 2013 #33

The Tea Party succeeded in shutting down the govt and costing us billions of dollars Rex Nov 2013 #13

Well, I do think what they said in the article about the tea party shooting itself in the foot in okaawhatever Nov 2013 #17

I believe all our premises are naturally flawed Puzzledtraveller Nov 2013 #18

Maybe a big difference is that liberals know their flaws and the teas don't? Which affects ancianita Nov 2013 #21

"succeeded in gaining lasting traction"... It helps when you have corporate backing. ck4829 Nov 2013 #22

Funny The2ndWheel Nov 2013 #23

The fear-based message, operating in the lower brain, Ron Green Nov 2013 #24

That sounds exactly right to me. nt MrScorpio Nov 2013 #26

I'm the only one who read this article. n/t Ian David Nov 2013 #27

What - we were supposed to rear the article?! bhikkhu Nov 2013 #37

Yeah, you and me both. I'm looking at the comments and wondering the same... nt riderinthestorm Nov 2013 #38

Laughable comparison. Marr Nov 2013 #29

Soooo...conservatives think most people agree with them, which is proven false bhikkhu Nov 2013 #36

I'm the only one who is unique IronLionZion Nov 2013 #39