The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science—and Reality
by Chris C. Mooney
Why 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
