At Yale, we conducted an experiment to turn conservatives into liberals[...]

Washington Post ^

[paratus]

"Keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe from harm is perhaps our strongest human motivation, deeply embedded in our very DNA. It is so deep and important that it influences much of what we think and do, maybe more than we might expect. For example, over a decade now of research in political psychology consistently shows that how physically threatened or fearful a person feels is a key factor — although clearly not the only one — in whether he or she holds conservative or liberal attitudes."

[paratus]

Make you wonder why they're driving conservative off Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, when some would prefer to brainwash us. *nudge*

[Ciaphas Cain]

Did they likewise experiment with turning liberals into conservatives?

[Bob]

Of course not — A lobotomy cannot be reversed.

[Spok]

It is accomplished by depriving people of their rights and forcing lies down their until they’re at first afraid to object but ultimately begin to believe.

[Jonty30]

It’s not conservatives who are demanding door to door home to school and back home again bus service.

[Celerity]

“At Yale, we conducted an experiment to turn conservatives into liberals”

Why can’t they just say what it is ? A massive gas leak !

[golux]

Yale "Republicans," once members of POR "The Party of the Right," etc., are traditionally the first to hail and solicit "immigrant" participation in student life, clubs, etc.

Many a thrilled undergrad from abroad is baffled when the lefty clubs - such as the many "native American" and "Mecha" clubs - with their amazing Crown, Elm, and State street real estate - demand their full ride frosh give speeches about how they are punished, underprivileged, impoverished, victimized by Yale, etc.

It is no wonder so many young intellectuals turn "conservative." Smart, patriotic, freedom and justice-loving kids always do.

[DiogenesLamp]

At Yale, we conducted an experiment to turn conservatives into liberals[...]

What? You gave them a lobotomy or something?

[A_perfect_lady]

No. It’s easier to take brains out than put brains in.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Fake news. Like always, they’re claiming that conservativism is motivated by fear, and liberalism by “openness to change”.

[paratus]

I don’t agree with the premise, even.

I was in no (imminent) danger of being infected, but I thought President Obama’s desire to bring Ebola patients to the U.S. was extremely reckless, and unnecessary.

[BigEdLB]

I confidential an hypnotic tones, the researcher puts his arm around the conservative’s shoulder and in a hushed voice he says, “We all know you love Big Brother”, while displaying a photo of Barack Obama.

[reasonisfaith]

Once you falsify data, get away with it and then receive accolades for what you’ve done, you’re more likely to do it on an increasing basis.

[Candor7]

Its easy to turn a liberal into a conservative. Just drop them off into any back street of a sanctuary city and have them walk a couple of miles to a bus station, then take them home, give them a bottle of good beer then take them to the nearest shooting range for some instruction and range time.

That works every time.

[Wiser now]

Their ‘study’ was a self-reporting online questionnaire.
Nothing is more unreliable or open to manipulation or outright fraud.
This is pure bs, but I’ll bet the readers of the WaPo spend the weekend feeling smug.

[Fresh Wind]

Did they likewise experiment with turning liberals into conservatives?

Yes, I understand the experiment involves putting a bunch of liberals on a bus, driving them into the New Haven ghetto, and then ejecting them from the bus. Any that survive that experience will be found to have become conservatives.

[fr_freak]

Just drop them off into any back street of a sanctuary city and have them walk a couple of miles to a bus station, then take them home

Unfortunately, most people are actually pretty weak, so it is fairly simple to convert a liberal into a conservative and a conservative into a liberal if all things about the two people are equal. All you have to do is place tremendous social pressure on the person one way or another. Placing the person in an environment where their support structure for the liberal/conservative belief is limited or even gone, and the opposite belief has dominance, and then open your arms and say "We'll love you and accept you if you just believe everything we tell you!" and voila! instant convert.

In this age, though, given that the dominant popular culture is leftwing, most people who are conservative by adulthood are that way for a reason, because they have to buck the system to be that way. So a grown conservative is harder to convert than a grown leftwinger, simply by virtue of the trial by fire that the conservative has probably already endured. Or, perhaps, that long walk to the city bus station at night.

[smokingfrog]

This article is total bunk.

The group was two-thirds female, about three-quarters white, with an average age of 35. Thirty-percent of the participants self-identified as Republican, and the rest as Democrat.

[chrisser]

It’s easy.

Just take away reason and accountability.

h/t Jack Nicholson

[EQAndyBuzz]

““At Yale, we conducted an experiment to turn conservatives into liberals””

I honestly didn’t think there were any conservatives at Yale. They must have found him.