If we know a person’s general emotional posture, I believe we can predict what ideologies he would choose if he were exposed to them—and whether they will be toward the left pole or the right. –Silvan Tomkins, 1965

What clues does your bedroom give about your political leanings? Read the descriptions of each one and decide which bedroom aligns closest to yours:

Bedroom 1: Walls lined with flags and sports décor, an event calendar hanging neatly near a set of postage stamps, an iron and ironing board, laundry basket, and a couple of alcoholic beverages on a nightstand.

Bedroom 2: Shelves full of books on a wide variety of topics, walls donned with maps of foreign countries, a large selection of music including oldies and folk, and a desk covered in stationery and art supplies.

Researchers would predict that if you chose the first, you are politically conservative. If you selected the second bedroom, you are more likely liberal.

Political psychology has made incredible strides in recent decades. Interesting patterns have emerged between participants who classify themselves as left versus right. Those on the political right tend to prefer conservative policies and candidates that uphold tradition or strive to revert to a simpler past. Those on the left tend to support progressive policies that advocate for change, especially ones aimed at reducing inequality. Much of the findings on the left-versus-right paradigm withstand cross-cultural comparisons.

Given these admittedly oversimplified descriptions of left and right, how would you classify yourself? John T. Jost, co-director of the Center for Social and Political Behavior at New York University, argues that those on the left differ from the right in personality, emotions, and psychological needs. See how well your answers to the following questions align with the research.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? What our........

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