Scientists believe that voting for authoritarian politicians may be linked to an aversion to bad smells and diseases ALAMYPerhaps those who tire of democracy and yearn for a strong leader to set the world to rights are not offended by the opinions of the great unwashed, but by their unsavoury aroma. An aversion to bad smells and diseases may fuel people’s attraction towards right-wing authoritarian politics, according to a study. The researchers argue that a deep-rooted fear of infection explains why some voters hanker after dictatorial governments that promise to keep out foreigners and to enforce a moral “purity” on society. Since the Second World War, scientists have sought to understand what psychological factors drive people into the arms of strongmen and populist movements who vow to restore a country’s traditions. In recent years they have increasingly turned to the theory of disgust.…

Source: The Times February 28, 2018 12:00 UTC