the power of positive thinking...

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2008
the power of positive thinking...
35
Thu, 11-06-2008 - 9:06pm

So I realize that some conservatives are devastated right now, and bitterly anticipating how horrible our lives are going to be with Obama as president. Those who voted for Obama are generally feeling relieved, hopeful, and excited about the next 4 years. Although the conservatives may feel that those who voted for Obama are in for a rude awakening, I wanted to point out that all the positivity flowing around right now among Obama supporters could itself have a very beneficial impact on our society. Look around you at all the people who feel inspired by the impact that they were able to make on our political system, who feel inspired by Obama's message that we need to do a better job of looking out for each other. I know that I for one feel a real spirit of generosity and social responsibility. I feel like I want to donate more to charity, volunteer my time, and find ways to make my work more relevant to helping those around me. Do the conservatives out there believe in the power of positive thinking? Do you think it is at all possible that excitement about Obama and his hopeful message could turn into a self-fulfilling prophesy?

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siggy aug 09

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2008
Thu, 11-06-2008 - 9:12pm

Too funny!

Conservatives have always known this:

Conservatives Happier Than LiberalsBy Jeanna Bryner, Senior Writer

posted: 07 May 2008 08:20 am ET

Individuals with conservative ideologies are happier than liberal-leaners, and new research pinpoints the reason: Conservatives rationalize social and economic inequalities.

Regardless of marital status, income or church attendance, right-wing individuals reported greater life satisfaction and well-being than left-wingers, the new study found. Conservatives also scored highest on measures of rationalization, which gauge a person's tendency to justify, or explain away, inequalities.

The rationalization measure included statements such as: "It is not really that big a problem if some people have more of a chance in life than others," and "This country would be better off if we worried less about how equal people are."

To justify economic inequalities, a person could support the idea of meritocracy, in which people supposedly move up their economic status in society based on hard work and good performance. In that way, one's social class attainment, whether upper, middle or lower, would be perceived as totally fair and justified.

If your beliefs don't justify gaps in status, you could be left frustrated and disheartened, according to the researchers, Jaime Napier and John Jost of New York University. They conducted a U.S.-centric survey and a more internationally focused one to arrive at the findings.

"Our research suggests that inequality takes a greater psychological toll on liberals than on conservatives," the researchers write in the June issue of the journal Psychological Science, "apparently because liberals lack ideological rationalizations that would help them frame inequality in a positive (or at least neutral) light."

The results support and further explain a Pew Research Center survey from 2006, in which 47 percent of conservative Republicans in the U.S. described themselves as "very happy," while only 28 percent of liberal Democrats indicated such cheer.

The same rationalizing phenomena could apply to personal situations as well.

"There is no reason to think that the effects we have identified here are unique to economic forms of inequality," the researchers write. "Research suggests that highly egalitarian women are less happy in their marriages compared with their more traditional counterparts, apparently because they are more troubled by disparities in domestic labor."

The current study was funded by the National Science Foundation.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-17-2008
Thu, 11-06-2008 - 9:18pm

I've seen this posted proudly before, and, I don't mean to be rude but I wonder how people are choosing to interpret these conclusions:


"Conservatives rationalize social and economic inequalities.... Conservatives also scored highest on measures of rationalization, which gauge a person's tendency to justify, or explain away, inequalities. "


When did being able to rationalize something away become a positive?

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. 

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2006
Thu, 11-06-2008 - 9:23pm

Hmmmm, very interesting.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2006
Thu, 11-06-2008 - 9:24pm
You beat me to the chase.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2008
Thu, 11-06-2008 - 9:27pm

I would rather care..and be concerned with what goes on around me..than explain it away and be apathatic. I can certianly agree with the study though. Liberals tend to care more about what goes on in the world...and not just shrug and blow it off.


"apparently because liberals lack ideological rationalizations that would help them frame inequality in a positive (or at least neutral) light."


I've never seen inequality as a postive thing...nor would I want to.


"Conservatives also scored highest on measures of rationalization, which gauge a person's tendency to justify, or explain away, inequalities."

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2006
Thu, 11-06-2008 - 9:48pm

That...to me....prettymuch explains the differences in the parties to a tee. Conservatives explain away and justify inequality...liberals do not. We care....and maybe too much..and want to change it.


The day I shrug off the horrid things that happen in this world..and turn a blind eye...and stop caring...is the day I hope I realize I have lost all my bearings and do some serious soul searching.


 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2006
Thu, 11-06-2008 - 10:13pm

I know that I for one feel a real spirit of generosity and social responsibility. I feel like I want to donate more to charity, volunteer my time, and find ways to make my work more relevant to helping those around me.


I am so glad that you posted this!

 


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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-23-2008
Thu, 11-06-2008 - 10:28pm

The rationalization measure included statements such as: "It is not really that big a problem if some people have more of a chance in life than others," and "This country would be better off if we worried less about how equal people are."


Oh please, sign me up to live in this world! Really? That's your support that conservatives are happier than liberals? That truly is "ignorance is bliss." I'm proud to be a liberal, especially knowing that it means I care about people and inequality without trying to rationalize and justify anything. I think if you have to mold your beliefs around what you can rationalize and justify, it's wrong.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-12-2008
Thu, 11-06-2008 - 10:52pm

That is interesting. I am familiar with that research. Did you know that some recent work just came out though showing that there is a disconnect between general life satisfaction (which is what these sorts of studies report) and actual day-to-day, moment-to-moment happiness (more like mood)? So for example, wealthier people (make more than 100K) report much more life satisfaction than poor people (who make less than 20K), but when you instead take measurements of moment-to-moment happiness throughout a day, there's maybe a 12% difference. So part of the problem with these happiness studies may be that people report being more satisfied because they believe they are supposed to be (e.g., I have enough money therefore I must be happy), not because they are actually happier on a day-to-day basis.

But this research is still interesting--and it does potentially explain a lot of differences between liberals and conservatives. Wealthy conservatives believe they've achieved success more solely because of effort. Wealthy liberals believe they've achieved success as a combination of effort and circumstance. If you believe its all effort, then you will probably be more self-satisfied, even if your belief is somewhat inaccurate.


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siggy aug 09
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-08-2008
Fri, 11-07-2008 - 7:09am

LOL!

 

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