Extreme Party identity exhibits cognitive inflexibility

This study first asked for a self report on Party identification. Then it tested for cognitive flexibility. Those who most strongly supported either party were correlated with cognitive inflexibility. Which says nothing about what specific policies are better or worse than others.

Just using terms like left and right conflates and confuses that significant data point, as if policies intentionally framed as extreme left like Medicare For All or fair taxation are therefore inflexible, which is absolute nonsense. As Michael pointed out, just being strongly anti-fascist, or anti-pathological lying, could be lumped in with extreme left positions, again nonsense.

On the other hand, it is true that there are inflexible people in both Parties which tend to go along with the crowd no matter what. But again, that does not mean that both Parties are equally extreme, especially on policy. Yes, establishment Dems can be and are legitimately criticized by their progressive counterparts for their corporate teat sucking. But to portray the progressive wing of the Party as extreme, even by establishment Dems, is the extreme spin by those that wish to maintain the status quo. Now that is the inflexible position.