The Dissenter

#1244 Keegan Tatum: The Psychology of Politics, and the Reactionary Politics of the Conservatives

Apr 23, 2026
Guest
Keegan Tatum
Keegan Tatum, a YouTuber and TikToker who explores the psychology of politics, joins to map how personality, brain differences, and social forces shape political leanings. He discusses childhood predictors, authoritarianism, gendered trends, the rise of the manosphere, and why academe skews left. Multiple short, lively conversations probe cognitive traits, empathy, and the emotional roots of political alignment.
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INSIGHT

Left Wing Authoritarianism Lacks Evidence

  • Left-wing authoritarianism lacks robust evidence in political psychology and is often described as the 'Loch Ness Monster'.
  • Keegan argues authoritarianism historically aligns with concentration of power, making most authoritarian models right-leaning.
ANECDOTE

Preschool Traits Predict Adult Political Leaning

  • Longitudinal preschool study linked personality at age 3–4 to political orientation two decades later.
  • Children later liberal were described as sociable and resilient; those later conservative were fearful, rigid, and over-controlled.
INSIGHT

Nature Interacts With Nurture In Political Traits

  • Genetics and environment both shape political tendencies; nurture can amplify or suppress inherited dispositions.
  • Keegan cites estimates that 40–60% of prejudice-related traits (e.g., RWA, SDO) show genetic influence, moderated by upbringing.
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