That's gross!: Study uncovers physiological nature of disgust in politics

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 25-Oct-2011
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Contact: Kevin B. Smith
ksmith1@unl.edu
402-472-0779
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Conservatives, gay marriage opponents registered strong reactions to disgusting pictures

Most likely, you would be disgusted if confronted with a picture of a man eating a mouthful of writhing worms. Or a particularly bloody wound. Or a horribly emaciated but still living body. But just how much disgust you feel may lend important insight into your personal political proclivities.

In a new study, political scientists closely measured people's physiological reactions as they looked at a series of pleasant and unpleasant images. Participants who identified themselves as conservative -- and, in particular, those who said they were against gay marriage -- had strong physiological reactions when shown the gross pictures.

The study, the latest to examine the connection between political differences and humans' built-in physiological traits, was co-authored by University of Nebraska-Lincoln political science professors Kevin Smith and John Hibbing and was published this month in the Public Library of Science One.

"This is one more piece of evidence that we, quite literally, have gut feelings about politics," Smith said. "Our political attitudes and behaviors are reflected in our biology."

Researchers worked with 27 women and 23 men who were chosen from a larger pool of participants who also underwent thorough political questioning. The subjects were shown a series of disgusting and also relatively pleasant images while electrodes on their skin measured subtle skin conductance changes, which indicated an emotional response.

As predicted, conservatives responded to the pictures with much more intense disgust than did liberals. Attitudes in opposition to same-sex marriage were highly connected.

The results add to a growing area of research that suggests biology plays a larger role in influencing political orientation than many might think. Recent UNL work has produced findings in this area, including a 2008 study that found people who are highly responsive to threatening images were likely to support defense spending, capital punishment, patriotism and the Iraq War.

"The proper interpretation of the findings (in the current study) is not that biology causes politics or that politics causes biology," the authors write, "but that certain political orientations at some unspecified point become housed in our biology, with meaningful political consequences."

Acceptance of the role of involuntary physiological responses is not easy for many, however: "Most are proud of their political orientations, believe them to be rational responses to the world around them, and are reluctant to concede that subconscious predispositions play any role in shaping them," they write.

Still, the authors suggest that if recognition of the relevance of politics of involuntary physiology became more widespread, it could diminish frustration from the perceived illogical inflexibility of political opponents and reduce political hostility.

"After all, if political differences are traceable in part to the fact that people vary in the way they physically experience the world, certitude that any particular worldview is 'correct' may abate, lessening the hubris that fuels political conflict."

###

In addition to UNL's Smith and Hibbing, the study was co-authored by Douglas Oxley of Texas A&M University; Matthew Hibbing of the University of California, Merced; and John Alford of Rice University.



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[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 25-Oct-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Kevin B. Smith
ksmith1@unl.edu
402-472-0779
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Conservatives, gay marriage opponents registered strong reactions to disgusting pictures

Most likely, you would be disgusted if confronted with a picture of a man eating a mouthful of writhing worms. Or a particularly bloody wound. Or a horribly emaciated but still living body. But just how much disgust you feel may lend important insight into your personal political proclivities.

In a new study, political scientists closely measured people's physiological reactions as they looked at a series of pleasant and unpleasant images. Participants who identified themselves as conservative -- and, in particular, those who said they were against gay marriage -- had strong physiological reactions when shown the gross pictures.

The study, the latest to examine the connection between political differences and humans' built-in physiological traits, was co-authored by University of Nebraska-Lincoln political science professors Kevin Smith and John Hibbing and was published this month in the Public Library of Science One.

"This is one more piece of evidence that we, quite literally, have gut feelings about politics," Smith said. "Our political attitudes and behaviors are reflected in our biology."

Researchers worked with 27 women and 23 men who were chosen from a larger pool of participants who also underwent thorough political questioning. The subjects were shown a series of disgusting and also relatively pleasant images while electrodes on their skin measured subtle skin conductance changes, which indicated an emotional response.

As predicted, conservatives responded to the pictures with much more intense disgust than did liberals. Attitudes in opposition to same-sex marriage were highly connected.

The results add to a growing area of research that suggests biology plays a larger role in influencing political orientation than many might think. Recent UNL work has produced findings in this area, including a 2008 study that found people who are highly responsive to threatening images were likely to support defense spending, capital punishment, patriotism and the Iraq War.

"The proper interpretation of the findings (in the current study) is not that biology causes politics or that politics causes biology," the authors write, "but that certain political orientations at some unspecified point become housed in our biology, with meaningful political consequences."

Acceptance of the role of involuntary physiological responses is not easy for many, however: "Most are proud of their political orientations, believe them to be rational responses to the world around them, and are reluctant to concede that subconscious predispositions play any role in shaping them," they write.

Still, the authors suggest that if recognition of the relevance of politics of involuntary physiology became more widespread, it could diminish frustration from the perceived illogical inflexibility of political opponents and reduce political hostility.

"After all, if political differences are traceable in part to the fact that people vary in the way they physically experience the world, certitude that any particular worldview is 'correct' may abate, lessening the hubris that fuels political conflict."

###

In addition to UNL's Smith and Hibbing, the study was co-authored by Douglas Oxley of Texas A&M University; Matthew Hibbing of the University of California, Merced; and John Alford of Rice University.



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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-10/uon-tgs102511.php

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UN panel sets target to connect poor to broadband

GENEVA (AP) ? A United Nations panel has given governments a target of connecting half the world's poor citizens to broadband Internet by 2015.

The U.N.'s Broadband Commission for Digital Development also says at least 40 percent of households in developing countries should be hooked up to broadband within four years.

The panel representing industry, academia and governments issued the challenge Tuesday. It said broadband access needs to be affordable even in the most impoverished nations.

The head of the U.N.'s International Telecommunications Union in Geneva, Hamadoun Toure, says the targets are "ambitious but achievable" if governments work together with the private sector.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2011-10-25-EU-UN-Broadband-Target/id-25028765514a434eae856847c27d14d0

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In fire, Winslet saved lives but discarded bra

In a disaster, it's important to make sure your assets are in order.

And that's exactly what Kate Winslet did right before she escaped a fire that ravaged 61-year-old British billionaire Sir Richard Branson's private home on Necker Island in August.

PHOTOS: Kate Winslet's stunning style moments

"We woke up at 4:30 in the morning to yelling that there was a fire," the Oscar winner recapped on "The Graham Norton Show," which airs October 29. "I jumped up and ran immediately towards the fire but then realized we might die ... then thought 'Now what do I do?' so I ran into the bedroom and put on a bra!"

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"In disastrous moments like that, you do the strangest things. I started to put on a bra and thought, 'No, that's going to take me too long,' so off came the bra, on came the T-shirt, then I grabbed the children and I picked up granny," Winslet said, referring to Branson's 90-year-old mother, Eve.

PHOTOS: Best-dressed British celebrities

But even months after the unfortunate event, the actress remains humble about her life-saving actions.

Story: Branson: Winslet saved my mom from fire

"No I didn't save her life. I carried her down the stairs is the truth of it," the 35-year-old "Contagion" star told the UK TV host. "I have to say Eve Branson is an extraordinary stoic, powerful lady and she could have totally made it out on her own, I just helped that tiny little bit."

PHOTOS: Stars who care

Winslet was one of 20 people staying at the Virgin Group CEO's home in the British Virgin Islands. She was vacationing with her two kids (Mia, 10, and Joe, 7) and her then boyfriend Louis Dowler. She's now dating Branson's nephew, Ned Rocknroll.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45013814/ns/today-entertainment/

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Denied Health Insurance ? What to do Next | Find Dental Health ...

Denied Health Insurance ? What to do Next

Thousands of people in the US are denied health insurance each year and end up facing huge medical bills due to pre-existing conditions. This is because so many insurance companies will refuse or charge exorbitantly high premiums for people who suffer from such things as high blood pressure, asthma, heart disease, diabetes or cancer, and the result is that these people may face significant financial problems. However, despite the difficulty of being in this position, there are options available. Many health insurance providers allow people to appeal their decisions, and there are plenty of alternatives that can be considered.

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Making an appeal

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If for any reason you have been denied health insurance, step one is to appeal against that decision. It will be necessary to research laws regarding the reason for your denial, and records should be kept of everything if the company should require documentation. If your chosen insurance provider still refuses coverage after an appeal, the next step is to contact an insurance broker that specializes in health insurance. In most cases, health insurance brokers will know the system extremely well and can work through it and find a good policy for almost anyone. However, it might be required that the policy you are offered contains a clause that excludes treatment for your pre-existing condition. Such a scenario is often not the best solution, but it is an option to be considered for some people.

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Other options to consider

Even though private health insurance is the most desirable coverage, there are other options to consider. Anyone who has been denied medial insurance is eligible to apply for their state?s high risk health insurance program, if there is one. These programs are currently available in 34 states. The downside is that they do not cover certain conditions, and you are relying on the fact that state legislation will not change later on and affect your coverage.

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Alternatively, married individuals whose partner has company health insurance can usually get themselves included in the same plan. Many of these employer-based insurance plans do not require health checks before enrollment.

?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

It is now only necessary for anyone denied health insurance to find a temporary solution to their problems, thanks to the law change in March 2010. This new law, part of the health care reform bill, is designed to prevent health insurance providers from discriminating against anyone who sufferers from a pre-existing medical condition. This act already covers children, and from January 2014 will cover adults as well.

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Summary: There are manyoptions available to anyone suffering from a pre-existing condition and has been denied medical insurance. Some advice includes: possible appeals, alternative coverage and future changes to the law surrounding such circumstances.

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Health Care Reform Bill ? Windfall for Retiree Insurers

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The recent health care reform bill contains a largely ignored clause that is hoped will provide a lot of relief to health plan sponsors who are struggling with retiree healthcare costs. Known as the ?Reinsurance Program?, this provision creates a subsidy for sponsors of health plans for retirees that offer coverage to anyone aged over 55 years old.

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This new program provides a similar incentive to employers that is offered by the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act. Employer groups that are willing to maintain medical insurance plans for retirees will be eligible for a significant windfall. The Reinsurance Program offers clear benefits to industries and employers that are dominated by unions and lumbered with expensive medical plans for retirees.

?

The potential savings

The proposal is that the new program will establish a temporary Reinsurance Program for employers that provide medical insurance to their retirees who are aged 55 or above, but currently is not available for Medicaid. Employers and insurers will be reimbursed for up to 80% of claims between ,000 and ,000 made by retirees.

?

Taking the example of an employer group that has 700 employees and 500 retirees on its program and spends million per year on its health insurance program, the subsidy could total up to 5,000 annually, which amounts to a reduction of 14.4% of its retiree plan costs.

?

Will it work?

It is likely that there will no doubt be a group of people in the government who will attempt to dilute and limit the category of providers who are able to make claims, as we have learned from the lesson of the RDS (Retiree Drug Subsidy) program. In this case, the drug subsidy was initially supposed to be calculated with all prescription drug costs that were incurred by plan sponsors. However, this relatively simple formula was complicated by a decision made by bureaucrats to exclude certain classes of drugs from this subsidy. The worry is that there might be a similar rationale in this case, with certain medical expenses being excluded later on, in order to align eligibility with only approved medical procedures that are within the government?s basic plans as is defined by the final reform bill.

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The language contained within the bill makes it unclear as to which party will actually receive the subsidy. The bill in the Senate states that: ?The program will reimburse insurers or employers?, while the bill in the House only gives reference to ?employers?. This vague wording leaves us with the question, will the employer be eligible for the subsidy or not? This remains to be seen, but it is hoped by many that it happens, as it will only serve to benefit both employers and retirees.

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Source: http://www.projektgenerika.org/denied-health-insurance-what-to-do-next.html

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Reasons to Order a Home Inspection Before Buying

If you intend to buy a first home or tenth home, to get the home inspection is an important part of the process of property valuation. Do not be fooled into thinking that avoids the inspection can help you save money. You can expect to pay several hundred dollars on building inspections, depending on the size of the property, but it's a small investment compared to the money you stand to save at home would have serious problems, which are not apparent to the naked eye. A first inspection of the house gives you more room to negotiate If your inspector tells you that the back porch is rotten and the roof must be replaced, you can choose only to purchase the house if the seller agrees to provide these products. A seller is always free to decline your offer or respond to a cons-offer, but knowing exactly what is wrong with the property you wish to purchase allows you more room to negotiate with the seller. Although the problem will be expensive to repair or home is a foreclosure, it never hurts to ask the owner for unforeseen expenses. 2. Some mortgages require inspection If you plan to finance your home with an FHA loan, expect a home inspection to be necessary. FHA loans require inspections to prevent buyers find themselves in a property that is uninhabitable or the safety of all kinds. Some lenders require an inspection, even if the buyer intends to finance the property with a conventional loan. Not only an inspection of the buyer, it benefits the lender as well. A buyer purchasing a home safe and structurally sound are less likely to abandon the property and stop paying mortgage. 3. Home Inspections will help you prepare for the future If you receive an inspection report that allows you to know that the house needs work, you had not originally planned, and the seller refuses to rectify the situation with a view to finalizing a trade, it does not necessarily mean you should not buy at home. This means, however, that you know that at some point in the future, you should perform repairs on the property. By getting a home inspection, you can prepare for the additional costs that may arise. 4th A home inspection gives you Walk Away In some cases, a home that is nice to be outside in pieces inside. A system of power failure, a large crawl space mold, or termite damage can all be paid thousands of dollars to repair. Provided that the offer was conditional on the original home inspection approved, it is not necessary to try to plead with the participation of the seller repair costs, or to start cashing in your investments to get your house fixed. You have the right to abandon the offer and seek a second home, which is a low-maintenance than the first choice. As well as save you money, your home inspection report to save you the stress of waking at night in your new home wondering if something goes wrong. Consider it a gift of safety for you and your family. If you wish not to buy a car without being checked by a mechanic, not to buy a home without having to order a home inspection report. Welcome to the Best South Florida Home Inspection, Inc. Our inspectors are licensed and insured home. We provide a detailed home inspection West Palm Beach home as well as on-site report. The next day, our clients receive confidential written report, including photographs and cost estimates. Our services do not work out of control. If you have questions about the review, we have available.

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Source: http://www.212articles.com/reasons-to-order-a-home-inspection-before-buying/

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Marriage & Relationships, Texcitez Votre Femme French Version Of ...

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McCartney weds in nostalgia-filled ceremony - Post-Bulletin

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BOREANAZ: 'AFFAIR BROUGHT ME CLOSER TO MY WIFE' - Daily Star

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Steve Jobs' Death Caused By Respiratory Arrest, Cancer ? CBS San ...

Steve Jobs

Former Apple CEO Steve Jobs during the unveiling of the iPhone. (David Paul Morris/Getty Images)

SAN JOSE (CBS / AP) ? A copy of Steve Jobs? death certificate made public Monday indicates that the Apple Inc. co-founder died of respiratory arrest resulting from pancreatic cancer that had spread to other organs.

Jobs died last Wednesday at age 56. Apple did not disclose his cause of death, but Jobs had been in poor health for a number of years.

He battled pancreatic cancer in 2004 and underwent a liver transplant in 2009 after taking a leave of absence for unspecified health problems. He took another leave of absence in January ? his third since his health problems began ? and resigned in August, handing the CEO job over to his hand-picked successor, Tim Cook.

The death certificate, released by the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and obtained by The Associated Press, said Jobs had a metastatic pancreas neuroendocrine tumor for the past five years. It listed his immediate cause of death as respiratory arrest.

He died at his home in Palo Alto. No autopsy was performed, and he was buried on Friday. Details of the certificate were reported earlier by Bloomberg News.

The certificate listed Jobs? occupation as a high-tech entrepreneur. Jobs started Apple Inc. in his parents? Silicon Valley garage with friend Steve Wozniak in 1976. Both men left Apple in 1985 ? Jobs following a clash with then-CEO John Sculley.

Jobs returned in 1997 as interim CEO after Apple, then in dire financial dire straits, bought Next, a computer company he started. That was the start of Apple?s remarkable turnaround, which continues today with the popularity of products such as the iPhone, iPod and iPad.

Jobs died the day after Apple announced its latest iPhone, the 4S, which will go on sale Friday. Some fans and investors were initially disappointed that Apple didn?t come out with a smartphone that is radically different from the existing iPhone 4. But Apple said first-day pre-orders of the device on Friday topped 1 million ? higher than the record set by the iPhone 4 when it was released last year.

Apple employees will hold a memorial service to celebrate Jobs? life on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. at the company?s Cupertino campus, according to an email sent out by Cook. An Apple spokesman said that the company will not be holding any public services.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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Source: http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/10/10/steve-jobs%E2%80%99-death-caused-by-respiratory-arrest-cancer/

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What You Have To Know About Workers Comp Insurance

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Workers compensation laws differ from one state to another, but in many cases companies should carry this sort of insurance to protect their employees in the eventuality of on-the-job injuries. Lost wages, medical expenses, and rehabilitation are all benefits that ...

Source: http://www.freearticlestogo.com/finances/insurance-finances/what-you-have-to-know-about-workers-comp-insurance/

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Have you learnt Fish Oils can lessen Swelling in Gout Disease ...

[unable to retrieve full-text content]health and fitness today. Archives. Select Month, October 2011 (324), September 2011 (3122), August 2011 (2599), July 2011 (1364), June 2011 (1658), May 2011 (2479), April 2011 (7100), March 2011 (3583), February 2011 (2096), January 2011 (9243), December 2010 (6350), November 2010 .... They can also prevent the gathering or amassing of the platelets which then causes occurrence of the clots, which can be yet another basis of getting heart disorder resulting to attacks. ...

Source: http://myhealthandfitnesstoday.org/have-you-learnt-fish-oils-can-lessen-swelling-in-gout-disease

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