A Cornell University researcher recently conducted a study that seems to provide an explanation for the behavior of male Republicans.
Robb Willer surveyed undergraduates at Cornell and found that men whose masculinity is challenged become more inclined to support war or buy an SUV. And their attitudes toward gays become more negative, too.
Sound familiar? Like maybe the U.S. Senate?
When they completed the survey, participants were given random feedback indicating their responses were either masculine of feminine. In a follow-up survey, women expressed no reaction to either type of feedback, but the males’ reactions were “strongly affected,” Willer said.
“I found that if you made men more insecure about their masculinity, they displayed more homophobic attitudes, tended to support the Iraq war more and would be more willing to purchase an SUV over another type of vehicle,” Willer said.
Those who had their masculinity threatened also said they felt more ashamed, guilty, upset and hostile than those whose masculinity was confirmed, he said.
I don’t know about ashamed and guilty, but upset and hostile certainly fit the Repug profile.
Still no scientific explanation for female Repugs.
“Robb Willer surveyed undergraduates at Cornell and found that men whose masculinity is challenged become more inclined to support war or buy an SUV. And their attitudes toward gays become more negative, too.”
Duh. Experience shows it also has much to to with an insufficiency of equipment, if you catch my drift. ;)