Your Political Views Are... Not Yours? This Scientist Explains Why Our Brains Vote for the "Hardliners"

Are our political beliefs the result of conscious choice, or are they written into the structure of our brains? Neurocognitive scientist Leor Zmigrod sheds new light on this question, combining biology with ideology in a fascinating story about how we think about the world.

Leor Zmigrod, a researcher at the University of Cambridge , in her book The Ideological Brain, presents the thesis that our ideological tendencies (i.e. political views) may have a biological basis . Her research suggests that people with a more "rigid" way of thinking - those who have a harder time adapting to change and are less able to handle ambiguity - are more likely to adopt extreme political views or extremism.

- To think ideologically is not only to adopt a rigid doctrine, but also to build a rigid identity that influences how we judge others. This identity results from the fact that every ideology has its believers and non-believers. So when you think ideologically, you adopt these rigid identity categories and decide to identify only with those who believe in your ideology and reject those who do not share it. The level of ideological extremism can be measured by how hostile you are towards people with different views and how much you are willing to harm them in the name of ideology - says the scientist in the podcast "The Grey Area"

Zmigrod uses neuropsychological tests , such as the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test , to measure the cognitive flexibility of his research participants . The results show that those with lower cognitive flexibility are more likely to identify with radical ideologies , regardless of their content.

- The most important thing is not to rely only on declarations - people are terrible at self-assessment. The most rigid thinkers will tell you that they are incredibly flexible, and the most flexible will not even notice it. That is why we need unconscious tests and cognitive games that reveal our natural ability to adapt or resistance to change - he explains.

Zmigrod’s research suggests that the structure of our brains can influence our ideological leanings . For example, people with higher levels of dopamine in the striatum and lower levels in the prefrontal cortex show greater cognitive rigidity . What does that mean? It’s simply harder to change their minds and they are much less flexible in their perception of the world.

Moreover, Zmigrod notes that established and popular ideologies such as liberalism, socialism, and conservatism offer simplified images of the world, which may be attractive to a brain that fears uncertainty and the unknown .

Ideologies provide ready-made answers and patterns of action, which can be particularly tempting for people with lower tolerance for the ambiguity of the reality around us.

But Zmigrod emphasizes that our brains are not hardwired for specific ideologies . Cognitive flexibility —the ability to adapt and shift perspectives —is a trait that can be developed. Research suggests that training and education can increase our cognitive flexibility, which can lead to greater tolerance and openness to diverse views.

In a world full of extremes and divisions, developing cognitive flexibility may be key to building more tolerant societies. Understanding that our beliefs are shaped by both biology and experience can help us better understand each other and have more constructive dialogue.