1. Fundamentally this article, in giving its theoretical argument that we should expect rigidity of the extremes assumes (implicitly) a framing narrative about how politics works that- while it can be found on both the left and right- is most common in the center. That framing theory is that political differences are primarily driven by different assessments of evidence. There is another possibility - that differences in political views are driven, at root, by differences in fundamental values. The truth is doubtless a blend of these, but if the normative roots of political disagreement are more important than the positive roots, it’s unclear this argument will stand up.
2. We need to think about sociological causes and correlates of cognitive flexibility. The cognitive flexibility metrics mentioned in the article look to me suspiciously like measures of intelligence, and things closely related to intelligence[1] and other cognitive capabilities associated with socio-economic success. Regardless, I anticipate, as someone on the left myself, that it is very possible centrists may be on average smarter than leftists and rightists. Why? Because intelligence is associated with success, and being successful is associated with not wanting to rock the boat and thinking the system is fundamentally sound- in effect the centrist position.
FN: [1]- Googling, correlations are around r=0.4, and would doubtless be higher controlling for measurement imperfections.
1. Fundamentally this article, in giving its theoretical argument that we should expect rigidity of the extremes assumes (implicitly) a framing narrative about how politics works that- while it can be found on both the left and right- is most common in the center. That framing theory is that political differences are primarily driven by different assessments of evidence. There is another possibility - that differences in political views are driven, at root, by differences in fundamental values. The truth is doubtless a blend of these, but if the normative roots of political disagreement are more important than the positive roots, it’s unclear this argument will stand up.
2. We need to think about sociological causes and correlates of cognitive flexibility. The cognitive flexibility metrics mentioned in the article look to me suspiciously like measures of intelligence, and things closely related to intelligence[1] and other cognitive capabilities associated with socio-economic success. Regardless, I anticipate, as someone on the left myself, that it is very possible centrists may be on average smarter than leftists and rightists. Why? Because intelligence is associated with success, and being successful is associated with not wanting to rock the boat and thinking the system is fundamentally sound- in effect the centrist position.
FN: [1]- Googling, correlations are around r=0.4, and would doubtless be higher controlling for measurement imperfections.