Do you like tight or loose better?

[shira]

Two psychologists - Jesse Harrington and Michele Gelfand - evaluated the "tightness-looseness" of states in the U.S. Tightness is how strongly punitive are the state's criminal sanctions and how permissive the state is socially. Generally speaking, the most conservative states are the tightest and the most liberal states are the loosest. Tightness correlates with more social stability, less drug and alcohol use, and higher rates of imprisonment, but also with less overall happiness and more bigotry. States apparently become more tight in response to various hardships and threats.

How tight is your state?

Here are the states ranked in descending-tightness order:

I don't know that any particular conclusions can be made from this study. I mean, we already pretty much know what the most conservative and the most liberal states are like. For example, Obama received 40% of the votes in the 10 tightest states and 59% of the votes in the 10 loosest states. Even though tightness and conservatism aren't the same thing, it's pretty easy to view a state's tightness rating as a good measure of how conservative the state is.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I seriously question how the ratings were done. There is no way in hell, Arizona is 29.

 

[kage69]

Mississippi - where evangelicals cry about discrimination if you don't adopt their views of discrimination! Seriously, I know it's vogue to hate on Florida and Texas, but I consider both of those states to have at least some redeeming qualities. Mississippi and Louisiana, not so much.

Guess I like my states like I like my women. Heh.

You know; cold, harsh and inhospitable. Go Maine, woooooooo!!

 

[shira]

I seriously question how the ratings were done. There is no way in hell, Arizona is 29.

Remember, "tightness" is not exactly the same thing as conservatism. For example, Alaska is one of the loosest states because (apparently) it's pretty permissive socially and/or doesn't punish wrongdoing as severely as many other states. But it did elect Sarah Palin. Go figure.

 

[MtnMan]

The effects of the Buy Bull Belt intolerance for basically everything enjoyable is bad and must be made illegal.

The first 14 on the list are solid Buy Bull Belt states.

 

[Moonbeam]

I figure Alaska for Libertarian conservative.

 

[Moonbeam]

Tight and loose are words that describe the duality that characterize a polarity that needs to be resolved at a higher level of understanding. Society isn't maintained on the line ( linear dimension) between tolerance and severity, but by the understanding and application if insight, knowledge and compassion. You can't be tolerant of people who are intent on acting out their self hate on others, nor can you gain anything by way of rehabilitation via sever punishment. And all this has to begin in childhood in a loving happy society free of competition and fear.

Fear is the mind killer that produces conservative thinking. It is a natural outgrowth of a tortured childhood that finds on hope or redemptiom.

 

[HeXen]

Wow, I way misinterpreted what the title of this thread meant.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I wonder how the "tightness" or "looseness" coorelates to obesity rates.

 

[Anarchist420]

i prefer looseness. i have been the victim of people being reactionaries towards me and i dont want it to happen to other people

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

i prefer looseness. i have been the victim of people being reactionaries towards me and i dont want it to happen to other people

Oddly enough, the tighter Southern States on the list tend to have a greater tolerance for folks of your perspective.