extensive research on conservative:liberal::fear:exploration

Pretty interesting and expanding body of research here: evidence-based observations of behavior and perception. Why is political conservatism so related to being fear-centric and restrictive?

Want to Understand Republicans? First Understand Evolution

As the new research suggests, conservatism is largely a defensive ideology -- and therefore, much more appealing to people who go through life sensitive and highly attuned to aversive or threatening aspects of their environments. By contrast, liberalism can be thought of as an exploratory ideology -- much more appealing to people who go through life trying things out and seeking the new.

Now if only they would hide themselves away instead of trying to lock us explorers in the basement.