I think not, Rick. I look at my family as example: both parents were hard-line, old-school Democrats. My older brother worked his way (partly) through college, sees his every achievement as due to his hard work (not the fact that he's white and was raised in a middle-class household), has lived all his life in South Texas, and is now a serious Tea-Bag Republican.
My younger brother went into the military and self-identifies as a Republican, but largely because he's in the military and that means (today -- not in my dad's day) that you're supposed to be Republican -- but when I question him on the issues, he's nearly as liberal as I am. I went and studied to be a Jesuit for five years, lived in other countries, and had a multitude of experiences that showed me clearly that who people are is more about what happens to them than what they "choose" to be. So my suspicion is that ideology arises from circumstances, much like many other "personality" characteristics. I don't think we choose it. I think life experiences tend to define it for us. I wouldn't *want* to be a Republican today, but that doesn't necessarily mean I *chose* to be a liberal Democrat. But then, I'm a bit of a determinist.... :) m PS And yes, I know the plural of "anecdote" is note "data," but the contrast between my older brother's life experiences and ideology and mine could not be more stark, and seem sort of relevant to the discussion. -- Marc Carter, PhD Associate Professor and Chair Department of Psychology College of Arts & Sciences Baker University -- ________________________________ From: Rick Froman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 1:50 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) Subject: RE: [tips] Discrimination against conservatives (again) Krugman says: "And it's not just the fact that you can choose your ideology, but not your race." I realize he is not giving much weight to this argument but he does refer to it as a fact. There were certainly people commenting on the original Times article that believe that we choose our ideology. Is there any scientific or empirical evidence that you choose your ideology as so many seem to assume? Rick Dr. Rick Froman, Chair Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Box 3055 x7295 [email protected] http://tinyurl.com/DrFroman Proverbs 14:15 "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps." ________________________________ The information contained in this e-mail and any attachments thereto ("e-mail") is sent by Baker University ("BU") and is intended to be confidential and for the use of only the individual or entity named above. The information may be protected by federal and state privacy and disclosures acts or other legal rules. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are notified that retention, dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error please immediately notify Baker University by email reply and immediately and permanently delete this e-mail message and any attachments thereto. Thank you. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=8608 or send a blank email to leave-8608-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
