Flutterby™! : Politics of fear

People with strong reactions, measured as skin conductivity and eye movement, to unexpected noises or pictures of threatening situations tend to endorse political positions that emphasize group protection over individual liberties:

Hibbing defined those "protective policies" as more defense spending, more government resources directed at fighting terrorism and tighter controls on immigration. "People in this group are more willing to sacrifice a little of their privacy to protect the social unit," Hibbing said. "On the other hand, the subjects who reacted less strongly to the stimuli were more likely to favor policies that protect privacy and encourage gun control."

Times Online article, ScienceNOW article, Via MeFi and other places.