From a reader:

Mr. Goldberg,
As a recent recipient of a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, things like this idiotic Berkeley study make me absolutely cringe (one would hope that habituation would take effect eventually). I can tell you, having only recently been released from this academic environment, that there are no other quarters in which liberalism is so predominant, and conservatism is indeed viewed as synonymous with “mean-spirited, homophobic, misogynist, hate-mongering troglodyte.”
What is especially galling about this is that one could easily argue that through the very fabric of liberalism is woven faulty thinking (“cognitive distortion” to use the jargon), including, but not limited to, what is referred to as “emotional reasoning.” This error is marked by a propensity to make decisions based upon one’s emotions, rather than logic and reason (“I feel this way, therefore it must be true.”) See well-meaning but cripplingly ineffective social programs whose propogation would appear to be justified only by the warm “feelings” it fosters in the hearts of its sponsors.
A second example: “Operant conditioning.” This unambiguous concept refers to the mechanism by which desired behaviors are reinforced, while those deemed undesirable are either ignored or punished. I’m not calling for the application of electric shock to anyone’s genitals, but how about a reduction in the payment (“reinforcing”) of individuals displaying shiftless, slothful behavior (unless that’s what we want to see more of…or it makes us feel good about ourselves) or, for that matter, of despotic (Saudi Arabia) or idiotic (most of Europe) regimes who don’t exactly have our best interests at heart.
I could go on about “cognitive dissonance” theory and the refusal of some to admit that Clinton ever did anything wrong, or “projection” (a less mainstream term these days) and Terry McAuliffe’s recent statement that “this may be the first time in recent history that a president knowingly misled the American people during the State of the Union address,” but I’m getting dizzy.
Please know that not all psychologists are pointy-headed liberal academics. I always look forward to your column…keep up the good work.