## ideological alignment The question of whether people gravitate toward certain ideologies based on pre-existing traits or whether they are persuaded to adopt an ideology from a “blank slate” has been explored across psychology, political science, sociology, and cognitive science. The prevailing evidence suggests that a combination of psychological predispositions, socialisation, and environmental factors influences ideological alignment, but individuals are not entirely blank slates when exposed to ideologies. ### Key Evidence and Research 1. Psychological and Cognitive Traits • Personality and Ideology (Big Five Traits): Research shows that personality traits can predict ideological preferences. For example, studies based on the Big Five personality traits consistently find that: • Openness to Experience is associated with liberal/progressive ideologies. • [[Conscientiousness]] correlates with conservative ideologies. • These traits shape preferences for stability versus change, order versus novelty, and group loyalty versus individual autonomy. • Source: Jost, John T., et al. (2003), “Political Conservatism as Motivated Social Cognition” • Cognitive Style and Certainty: People with a preference for cognitive closure (a desire for certainty and aversion to ambiguity) are more likely to gravitate toward conservative ideologies. Conversely, those who tolerate ambiguity tend to lean toward liberal or progressive beliefs. • Source: Kruglanski, Arie W., et al. (2006), “Need for Closure and Political Conservatism” 2. Genetic Influences • Twin studies suggest a genetic component to political orientation. While specific ideologies are not inherited, genetic predispositions influence personality traits, risk tolerance, and attitudes toward hierarchy and tradition, which align with ideological tendencies. • Source: Alford, Funk, & Hibbing (2005), “Are Political Orientations Genetically Transmitted?” 3. Social and Environmental Influences • Socialisation: Early life experiences, family beliefs, education, and cultural norms significantly shape ideological orientation. Children raised in politically active households often adopt their parents’ beliefs, though this influence diminishes in adulthood for some individuals. • Example: Pew Research data shows strong intergenerational alignment in political beliefs, particularly in stable environments. • Source: Jennings, M. Kent, et al. (2009), “The Transmission of Political Values from Parent to Child” • Group Identity and Social Identity Theory: People gravitate toward ideologies that align with their group identity, whether based on ethnicity, religion, class, or other affiliations. Ideologies offer a framework for interpreting the world in a way that supports group cohesion. • Source: Tajfel, Henri, & Turner, John C. (1986), “The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior” 4. Moral Foundations Theory • Jonathan Haidt’s Moral Foundations Theory suggests that individuals’ ideological leanings are shaped by differing moral priorities. Conservatives tend to value loyalty, authority, and purity, while liberals emphasise care and fairness. These moral predispositions guide individuals toward ideologies that align with their values. • Source: Haidt, Jonathan (2007), “The New Synthesis in Moral Psychology” 5. Information Processing and Confirmation Bias • People are more likely to accept ideologies that align with their pre-existing beliefs, a phenomenon known as confirmation bias. Even when exposed to contradictory information, individuals often reject it to preserve cognitive consistency. This suggests that ideologies resonate with pre-existing frameworks rather than converting individuals from a neutral starting point. • Source: Taber, Charles S., & Lodge, Milton (2006), “Motivated Skepticism in the Evaluation of Political Beliefs” 6. Historical and Sociological Evidence • Crisis and Ideological Shifts: Major societal crises (economic depressions, wars, pandemics) can cause people to reevaluate ideologies. However, even in such situations, individuals often gravitate toward ideologies that align with their underlying psychological needs (e.g., seeking stability in times of uncertainty leads to conservatism). • Source: Lipset, Seymour Martin (1960), “Political Man: The Social Bases of Politics” • Path Dependency and Cultural Exposure: In societies with long-standing ideological traditions, people are more likely to adopt the dominant ideology of their environment, influenced by cultural path dependency rather than pure rational persuasion. Conclusion While individuals are influenced by external factors such as education, media, and life experiences, they are far from blank slates. Psychological predispositions, moral priorities, and social identities strongly influence why people gravitate toward certain ideologies. The interplay between internal traits and external influences creates a dynamic process where ideologies resonate with, rather than entirely shape, individuals’ core beliefs. Whatever happens in our childhoods echos stronger & stronger throughout our adult lives 📢 [[Myers Briggs Personality]] [[Enneagram]]