A new study showed a link between strong right-wing views and fear of disease and increased concern about hygiene.
The study showed that people who are more offended by bad odors are more likely to support authoritarian leaders, such as Donald Trump.
In the past, disgust at bad odors was important for survival. The scientists suggested that the disgust at unfamiliar odors may be linked to a desire to keep apart from "culturally unfamiliar" groups.
[...] In the new study, 160 people were rated on their aversion to bodily odours on a scale to one five and their responses compared to their political views. It found that each point higher on the disgust scale was associated with feeling 7.5 points more positive towards authoritarian leaders.
[...] It showed that people who were more disgusted by smells were also more likely to vote for Donald Trump than those who were less sensitive.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 01 2018, @03:10PM
I think they have the causation backwards, as usual.
I agree it's perfectly normal to be put off by disease and things that carry disease like pests.
However, I think it's the case that Right Wing Authoritarians (as opposed to anarcho-capitalists and libertarians [i.e. not anarcho-capitalism], a distinction nobody cares to make) have an irrational response to disease given a modern understanding of the nature of common diseases. Additionally, they tend to also blame the patient.
On the other hand, most people I know who live in filth vote R team, so whatever.