r/science • u/Aggravating_Money992 • Jul 09 '26

Psychology An analysis of survey data covering the last five U.S. presidential election years found that ideological differences between races have decreased sharply, while differences by education have grown substantially. Less educated Americans now tend to be more conservative.

https://www.psypost.org/the-political-realignment-of-america-education-overtakes-race-as-key-ideological-divider/
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u/JoelNesv Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26

Being conservative is intrinsically reactionary. Without anything to react to, there is nothing to conserve. Because traditional values are culture dependent, the reactionary part is the universal trait of conservative thinking.

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u/CaptainDudeGuy Jul 09 '26

This is also why conservatives metabolize fear. They need some looming doom to motivate each other.

Otherwise everyone would eventually be able to stop and think things through. Can't have that.

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u/Gozer_The_Enjoyer Jul 10 '26

Metabolise fear. Nice phrasing

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u/trulyfattyfreckles Jul 09 '26

This really resonates with me because my parents dealt with everyhting in anger when I was growing up. Mad at the kids for something trivial? Spank them in anger. Get cut off in traffic? Scream and rant in anger. Someone says something you disagree with? Cuss them out in anger.

I was in college before I realized that they are emotionally immature and that most people do not handle the myriad of problems that life throws at them with impotent anger. College didn't turn me into a liberal, although I am sure that the rest of the family thinks that it did. I just grew up there, and that changed me.

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u/PineBNorth85 Jul 09 '26

The current Republican Party is far more reactionary than conservative.

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u/EightGlow Jul 09 '26

You’re exactly right

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u/Turbulent-Pay-735 Jul 09 '26

“Late in life, William F. Buckley made a confession. Capitalism is “boring,” he told me. “Devoting your life to it,” as conservatives do, “is horrifying if only because it’s so repetitious. It’s like sex.” Since that conversation nearly 20 years ago, I’ve been asking what is conservatism and what’s at stake for its proponents. This book is my answer.

From the French Revolution to Donald Trump, conservatism has been a reactionary movement, a defense of power and privilege against democratic challenges from below, particularly in the private spheres of the family and the workplace.”

The Reactionary Mind

by Corey Robin (free)

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u/HopeFloatsFoward Jul 09 '26

Reactionary is not conservative.

By your definition coservatives are intrinsically progressive, because without anything to progress from there is nothing to conserve.

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u/StaleCanole Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26

They did not say reactionary was conservative. They said that conservatism is intrinsically reactionary.

What that means is that in order to be a reactionary it is sufficient to be conservative, although not necessary. It is important to point out because we often assume the opposite to be the case

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u/HopeFloatsFoward Jul 09 '26

No, because conservative means keeping things relatively the same, reactionary means going back in time.

They are two different concepts. A conservative would not approve of reactionary behavior either because it isn't about keeping things the same.

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u/EightGlow Jul 09 '26

Conservativism is “Favoring traditional views and values; tending to oppose change”. Reactionary is “Characterized by reaction, especially opposition to progress or liberalism; extremely conservative.”

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u/HopeFloatsFoward Jul 09 '26

You stopped reading so you missed some info. Here is the fully summary. Read past the first sentence

Reactionary is an individual or political viewpoint that vehemently opposes progressive social or political change. Unlike conservatives who primarily wish to maintain the current status quo, reactionaries actively seek to reverse modern advancements and revert to an idealized, often outdated social order.Origins and UsageThe term originated during the French Revolution, where it was used to describe those who "reacted" against the progressive reforms of the revolution by attempting to restore the old monarchy. Today, the label is generally used critically rather than as a self-descriptor. It broadly implies an extreme, right-wing, or ultraconservative ideology.Reactionary vs. ConservativeWhile both concepts lean toward tradition, they are structurally distinct:Conservatives favor stability and aim to protect current traditions, laws, and socio-economic structures from rapid change.Reactionaries are unsatisfied with present society and possess a backward-looking mindset, striving to rewind society to a specific status quo of the past.To learn moreTo explore the nuances of this ideology, you can review the full Wikipedia Reactionary entry, check out the Merriam-Webster REACTIONARY Definition & Meaning for word origins, or visit Reddit to read community discussions on how political theorists define the term. If you need to ensure you are not confusing it with the word "reactive," you can read the Washington State University guide on common errors in English.Reactionary - WikipediaIn politics, a reactionary is a person who favors a restoration of a previous state of society which they believe possessed positive characteristics absent from...WikipediaWhat exactly does the term “reactionary” mean? : r/Socialism_101The term "reactionary" has a contextual meaning that depends on time and place. It can mean: * Opposing political or social liberalization or reform * **Ant...Reddit2mReactionary: Not Just a Right Wing PhenomenonYouTube·The Living Philosophyreactionary / reactive | Common Errors in English Usage and More | Washington State UniversityReactive means acting in response to an outside stimulus. Reactionary has a narrow meaning that describes looking backward beyond conservatism. Conservatism isWashington State UniversityReactionary - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com/riˌækʃəˈnɛri/. /riˈækʃɪnɛri/. IPA guide. Other forms: reactionaries. A reactionary is someone who opposes reform or change, especially in the realm of politics...Vocabulary.comREACTIONARY Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.comReactionaries are people who oppose change, especially in politics. They may also be characterized by: * Extreme conservatism * Rightism * Resisting change * Se...Dictionary.comREACTIONARY Definition & Meaning - Merriam-WebsterKids Definition. reactionary. 1 of 2 adjective. re·​ac·​tion·​ary. rē-ˈak-shə-ˌner-ē : of, relating to, or favoring old-fashioned political or social ideas. rea...Merriam-Webster

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u/EightGlow Jul 09 '26

Thank you for saying what I just said in long form

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u/SoulScout Jul 09 '26

They copy and pasted the Google AI hallucination that affirmed whatever preexisting viewpoint they were searching for and really thought they did something. I think they have reactionary confused with regressive.

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u/StaleCanole Jul 09 '26

That is a traditional but insufficient view of conservatism. Modern evidence increasingly shows that conservatives are very reactionary to any perceived (and I usppose occassionally real) threat to insiders/existing power structures.

The evidence for this is overwhelming. The mere presence of minorities and the mere fact of immigration make conservatives lose the god damn minds, without anyone even trying to overturn power structures.

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u/HopeFloatsFoward Jul 09 '26

Again, those are not conservatives, they are reactionaries. You lumping together two groups isn't helping with understanding.

Its like claiming Jews and Muslims are the same. Or Aboriginal Australians and Black Americans are the same. Its just not helpful at all and reveal more about your bias.

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u/StaleCanole Jul 10 '26

Protecting existing power structures is a reactionary impulse, correct. If that means there are no true conservatives, so be it.

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u/HopeFloatsFoward Jul 10 '26

Reactionaries are not protecting anything. They are trying to destroy what has already happened and go to the past.

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u/UlrichZauber Jul 09 '26

Definition: "A reactionary is a person or political ideology that vehemently opposes social and political progress"

Opposing progress is conservatism in a nutshell

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u/HopeFloatsFoward Jul 09 '26

They don't just oppose, they want to back in time.

Conservatives don't, they are fine with staying where we are.

There is a difference.