Surprising Sociology Research

The more oppressive the government, the more its citizens will defend it; people support corrupted politicians more fiercely; people with strong family ties are less trusting. The Boston Globe summarizes some unexpected conclusions reached from research sociological research: “Most of us probably assume that people who are trapped in repressive regimes like Cuba or North Korea really want to get out. A new study suggests instead that it’s the very fact of being trapped that helps people defend the system. … So, just as people can go to great lengths to rationalize bad decisions and personal defects, they’ll stick up for the group they’re stuck with.”