Psychological Subscales of Liberalism and Conservatism as Related to Political Party,Race,Education,Religion,Geographical Region,and Gender

Abstract

The Psychotemporal Survey of Ideologies (PSI) was completed by 1,000 adults in a nationwide U.S. poll. On the PSI subscale measuring “visionary liberalism focused on the future,” atheists scored higher than everyone else, and racial minorities scored collectively higher than other racial groups. On the subscale measuring “dread-ridden conservatism focused on the future,” Tea Party affiliates scored higher than everyone else, and “born again” Protestants scored significantly higher than other religiously defined groups. On the PSI subscale measuring “pragmatic liberalism focused on the present,” people with a graduate school education scored significantly higher than those with less education, and on the subscale measuring “pragmatic conservatism focused on the present,” Whites scored significantly higher than other racial groups. On the PSI subscale measuring “guilt-ridden liberalism focused on the past,” agnostics scored significantly higher than other religiously defined groups, and on the subscale measuring “nostalgic conservatism focused on the past,” high school dropouts scored significantly higher than better educated groups.