I'm just wondering why the majority of intellectuals and academics in this country are liberal-leaning.
A recent paper by Matthew Woessner of Penn State, and his wife, April Kelly-Woessner, of Elizabethtown College -- called "Left Pipeline: Why Conservatives Don't Get Doctorates" addresses this. Based on survey data they ruled out several commonly cited reasons:
- culturally hostile environment. Actually conservatives report a slightly higher rate of satisfaction with college than liberals do.
- conservatives aren't smart enough. Conservatives and liberals have about the same grade-point average. (The moderates score lowest.)
Instead, they found that 4 personality traits that accounted for most of the discrepancy -- the importance placed on raising a family, making money, contributing original work to a particular field and developing a meaningful philosophy of life. They found liberalism "is more closely associated with a desire for excitement, an interest in creative outlets and an aversion to a structured work environment. Conservatives express far greater interest in financial success and stronger desires to raise families."
http://www.aei.org/docLib/20071114_WOESSNER.pdf
