Taber and Lodge’s “Motivated skepticism in the evaluation of political beliefs” describes the confirmation of six predictions:1 Prior attitude effect. Subjects who feel strongly about an issue—even when encouraged to be objective—will evaluate supportive arguments more favorably than contrary arguments. Disconfirmation bias. Subjects will spend mor

“left-wingers are more motivated by creativity, curiosity, and diversity of experience, whereas right-wingers are more motivated by self-control, norm attainment, and rule-following.”

Individual differences grounded in early socialization, genetic makeup, social context, and personality generate liberals and conservatives, Social Democrats and Christian Democrats, tolerant and intolerant individuals, more and less well-informed citizens, and sectarian partisan elites.