Scott Kaufman in a Psychology Today blog discusses research claiming that conservatives are less creative (Are conservatives less creative than liberals?). Kaufman is fairly even-handed, but I have a problem with research that takes several political policy positions and uses that to establish that some is a “conservative” since that has a much broader social connotation.
Why not frame of this finding using a more appropriate (and possibly more accurate) designation such as cognitive inflexibility. This takes away the political baggage and inherent emotion that baggage brings. There have been many studies that link individuals who need cognitive closure and have an intolerance for ambiguity with lack of creativity. (note: links are relationships, not causality).
Given the research premise, these findings should be consistent with anyone who is firmly and unwaveringly committed to ideas and positions without questioning–conservative or liberal or in between. As he notes, there is variation in conservatives. For example, some people are fiscal conservatives and social liberals. Anyone reading the headline would assume that much broader definition of conservative than the research supports.
I think in the spirit of the Obama win, we should work toward humanizing individual differences and avoid stereotyping of any group.
Dr. Pamela Rutledge is available to reporters for comments on the psychological and social impact of media and technology on individuals, society, organizations and brands.
Those who are asleep are even less cognitively flexible.