I don’t know much of anything about this man, but this is the best easy-to-understand explanation I’ve read of the difference between the liberal and conservative mindsets, how they make decisions, and what they value.

If it feels like we’re living in two different realities in our country right now, this is a great tool for understanding why. We really are, at least in people’s heads.

It’s quite true that if you are Liberal or Conservative you tend to surround yourself mostly with friends – both on-line and off – that tend to think the way you do and share your common interests.  While you can’t pick your family you do have control over who your close friends are.

But what surrounding yourself with people who share your views, and more importantly, often come by those views in the same manner that you did often means is that you can not have a clear grasp of why the people on the other side of the political spectrum ended up over there.

People tend to unconsciously think other people think, reason, and adopt ideas and beliefs the same way they do.

That’s why I found it fascinating to discuss current topics and issues with Liberals and study how they responded to challenges to their views.

Here’s what I’ve learned over the years from these discussions.

Liberals don’t adopt their views after careful and reasoned analysis.

Progressives are not individualists; they seek Herd membership and status among the Collective is established by displaying love of conformity.  This is why groupthink commitment to The Accepted Group View is so vitally important to the Left.

Conservatives come to their positions through reason and experience.  Liberals adopt theirs on the basis of Authority of the Herd and emotional commitment.

This is why most Progressives view as challenge to their beliefs as a PERSONAL ATTACK.  This is why they almost immediately interject a lot of emotion into a discussion where they are finding their views being challenged.

Go over and read the entire article: Understanding Liberal Pathology I