There's No Arguing With Conservatives ... No, Seriously, Scientific Studies Prove It

A new study out of Yale University confirms what argumentative liberals have long-known: Offering reality-based rebuttals to conservative lies only makes conservatives cling to those lies even harder. In essence, schooling conservatives makes them more stupid. From the Washington Post article on the study, which came out yesterday:

Political scientists Brendan Nyhan and Jason Reifler provided two groups of volunteers with the Bush administration's prewar claims that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. One group was given a refutation -- the comprehensive 2004 Duelfer report that concluded that Iraq did not have weapons of mass destruction before the United States invaded in 2003. Thirty-four percent of conservatives told only about the Bush administration's claims thought Iraq had hidden or destroyed its weapons before the U.S. invasion, but 64 percent of conservatives who heard both claim and refutation thought that Iraq really did have the weapons. The refutation, in other words, made the misinformation worse.

A similar "backfire effect" also influenced conservatives told about Bush administration assertions that tax cuts increase federal revenue. One group was offered a refutation by prominent economists that included current and former Bush administration officials. About 35 percent of conservatives told about the Bush claim believed it; 67 percent of those provided with both assertion and refutation believed that tax cuts increase revenue.

In a paper approaching publication, Nyhan, a PhD student at Duke University, and Reifler, at Georgia State University, suggest that Republicans might be especially prone to the backfire effect because conservatives may have more rigid views than liberals: Upon hearing a refutation, conservatives might "argue back" against the refutation in their minds, thereby strengthening their belief in the misinformation. Nyhan and Reifler did not see the same "backfire effect" when liberals were given misinformation and a refutation about the Bush administration's stance on stem cell research.

If you've ever gotten in an argument with your conservative friends (assuming you haven't offered each other a mutual Carville-Matalin-style political ceasefire to preserve the friendship), you've probably seen this "backfire effect" in action. The more you try to tell people that Sarah Palin is lying when she says she was against the Bridge to Nowhere, the more they believe she was telling the truth. The more you try to explain how similar McCain's policies are to Bush's, the more they maintain he's "the original maverick."

The typical mantra of the left is that we don't need to sink to the Republicans' level because we have the truth on our side. But if the other side is utterly immune to the truth -- and indeed, the truth only makes them dig deeper into their fantasy world in which the economy is fundamentally strong and the War in Iraq is a staggering success -- what's a leftie to do?

I ain't got the answers, ace, except to say this: When arguing with conservatives in front of on-the-fence independents, remember that you're not trying to convince the conservative to actually buy into silly notions like facts and reason. You're highlighting the differences between left and right for the outside observer. If the other guy insists on political views that belong only in Disney World's Fantasyland, other folks will realize what's happening.

But if there is no third party, do yourself a favor and save your breath. As the study demonstrates, you're only making matters worse. Consider that aforementioned ceasefire. It is football season, after all. There's plenty of other things to argue about. Go Mizzou!

Comments

[Yermammy]

A couple of days reading comments left by the trolls is all you need for research. Must get lonely over at the kook right wing blogs. Sad little creatures.

[Itchybiscuit]

I watched the Gibson interview with Palin. All the way through I was thinking to myself, 'Surely now they'll realise how willfully ignorant and venal this woman is...?'

Then another thought intruded which probably goes to the heart of your blog. I imagined many Democrats watching the same interview, holding their heads in their hands and repeating over and over, 'I can't believe it, I won't believe it...'

On the flip-side of that coin, I imagined many Republicans rubbing their hands in glee when, in answer to Mr. Gibson's question on the Bush Doctrine, Palin replied, 'In what respect Charleeee?' I could literally see them punching the air and cheering Palin on to 'stick it to him'.

The Democrats were still holding their heads in their hands.

[realpolitic]

As a fairly liberal person, I can say I have seen this type of behavior displayed here in the blog. Conservatives never admit to being wrong even when given information from authoritive sources. This argument especially holds true on the subject of global warming. Conservatives insist it is a conspiracy or something. When given evidence on any aspect of warming they change the subject or disappear only to make the same argument again later. I would have much more confidence in their position and respect for the truth if occasionally one admitted to being wrong.

[Valley Forge]

But watch the fun when the few Repugnicans who hang here read this story and start coming up out of their chairs!

I may just stay up late tonight!

(rubbing hands together and grinning maniacally)

[realpolitic]

They will argue look how reasonable and flexible conservative pundits are like Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. Yes, right!!

[Valley Forge]

The fact that McSame is as popular as he is, even though our Country is circling the drain and he can only promise more of the same, proves that 50% of our Citizenry are Lemmings!

The sad thing is, we're all tied together and unless we can turn out the vote in greater numbers...

They're going to drag us over the cliff with them!

You can't reason with them.

You can't convert them.

You have to out number them at the polls on election day.

It's the only way!

[CanadianSteve]

Working with the lemmings theory, maybe die-hard conservatives could be told that Bush thinks it is a great idea to jump off a cliff. Then, tell them otherwise and they will actually do it!

[Ides]

This is incredibly frightening.

[Valley Forge]

Thank you Yale! My wife is continually amazed by this quality among Conservatives. I keep telling her that the majority of Conservatives have inherited their political affiliation from their parents and have never, ever questioned it.

Ask the average Conservative on the street why they're Conservative and you'll most likely hear, "I just always have been!"

Ask the same person what Conservatives stand for and what you'll typically get is, "Family Values, anti-gay rights....um.....um.....strong on terrorism!"

My wife will put bumper stickers on her car specifically to draw these people into debate because she thinks she can change them. Then she is, without fail, shocked at their refusal to acknowledge known facts or embrace simple logic.

I've known for years that you can't argue with these people. They're irrational hate mongers and you'd have better luck trying to talk lead into changing into gold!

[realpolitic]

The most committed ideological conservatives do inherent their views from their parents, for example, a guy like Tucker Carlson. Their parents must reinforce in them a disdain for the poor and for working hard for things.

Conservatives have so many false narratives going at the same time, one can get dizzy listening to them.

[quadman]

"Ask the average Conservative on the street why they're Conservative and you'll most likely hear, "I just always have been!"

Ask the same person what Conservatives stand for and what you'll typically get is, "Family Values, anti-gay rights....um.....um.....strong on terrorism!"

This is silly. Most Dems I know are usually Dem because their parents were. And when asked why, their answer is much like the second line except I hear words like choice, social security, and union.

Sorry, the 'science' here is junk.

[Maury66]

my dads folks were Strom Thurmond loving separate but equal south shall rise again general sherman hating South Carolinians.........My dad on the other hand, voted for Kennedy, Humphry, Mondale, Carter, Clinton..Stevenson.....etc etc......explain please in fifty words or less.

and "family values" is a meaningless slogan/propaganda tool...so is "strong on terrorism" whereas Unions, choice, and social security are specific policies and programs....just as the science is implying.

[Valley Forge]

"the 'science' here is junk."...

you mean like: "the Jury is still out on Global Warming!"?

[CharlieinDenver]

This goes hand in hand with the study that concluded that Democrats use their brains differently than do Republicans . http://www.livescience.com/health/brain_politics_041029.html
Of course, that is assuming that the Republican IS actually using their brain.

[Yermammy]

The one at the base of their tail. Like stegosaurus. (it's tiny!). :)

[proreality]

This study should be the main talking point from now until the election. finally the scientific proof of what most of us lefty's have long known, we are dealing with idiots and idealogues. Of course these people don't believe in science so it is just more proof of how wrong science is.

[quadman]

This 'science' is just what Obama needs to convert all of those undecideds! Olbermann should lead this off every night to remind the nation of the infallability of this amazing 'research'.

[MsEngineer]

I have noticed when I state proven and known facts on conservative web sites I am called a liar or stupid. I have also been told I must be ugly and jealous of Palin. Go figure.

[realpolitic]

I guess conservatives complain of every criticism of Palin that it is sexist, yet when a women complains of Palin, conservatives think it is acceptable to say that woman is ugly. This illustration raises the point that conservatives lack self-awarenes also.

[therealredstateblues]

Common conservative trick - when their arguments can't stand on the merits, they resort to name calling and personal attacks

[dexxjones]

what do you expect from a group of people who get their marching orders from a collective imaginary friend? during the catholic church "crisis" (which by the way is far from over) i was continually amazed by how many people defiantly threw thier children at the church to show how "untrue" and "overhyped' he claims of abuse from survivors were.

delusional is as delusional does. this is why they need not be humoured. can you folks imagine a president palin?

[realpolitic]

Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'reilly are not collective imaginary friends to conservatives. They are real friends whom they invite to dinner.

[dexxjones]

i was talking about those who take their marching orders from jeysus.

[SamThornton]

Fascinating stuff. Here's a link to the actual study: http://tinyurl.com/6ckcgf (PDF).

[Dan Sweeney - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks for that, Sam! I'd meant to post a link to the study in the original blog entry, but forgot about it. You da man!

[Herrington]

Well I had been starting to think I was stupid. But now I am sure I'm not and no science mumbo jumbo can make me believe different ; )

[TedB]

Every time I get into an argument with a republican, I am reminded of the following quote:

"I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person."

-Walter Kelly(?)

[therealredstateblues]

Great article confirming something i have long suspected. Reason, truth, facts, charts graphs etc are meaningless to the right.

That is something that the left generally fails to understand about the right - that it is more about beliefs, emotions and symbolism than reality

[realpolitic]

They do win elections by putting their believes into easy soundbites. Democrates must learn and master this technique.