The Gray Area with Sean Illing The science of ideology
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May 5, 2025 
Leor Zmigrod, a political psychologist and neuroscientist, discusses the fascinating interplay between our biology, psychology, and political beliefs. She explores the challenges of confronting ideologies when faced with contradictory evidence. Zmigrod delves into rigid versus flexible thinking, emphasizing the importance of cognitive flexibility in navigating moral complexities. The conversation highlights how genetic and environmental factors shape our ideological rigidity and calls for an adaptable mindset to foster understanding across the political spectrum.
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Definition of Ideological Thinking
- Ideological thinking combines a fixed, all-encompassing doctrine with a rigid identity dividing believers and non-believers.
- This promotes absolute, black-and-white thinking and hostility towards differing beliefs.
Ideology as Style of Thinking
- Ideological thinking is better understood as a style of thinking, not just a belief set.
- Different ideologues share similar cognitive patterns despite holding opposing views.
Testing Cognitive Flexibility
- To test cognitive flexibility, use unconscious tasks like the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.
- Flexibility shows in quick adaptation to rule changes, while rigidity resists change despite negative feedback.
