Researchers cite muscle-bound Hollywood action heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stallone as evidence that aggression is linked to conservative politics. [...]

Researchers from Griffith University in Australia said the Hollywood examples were typical of a phenomenon among modern men with an aggressive side. They tend to build up their upper body strength and become subconsciously obsessed with their fighting ability, they told the journal Human Nature.

Lead researcher Aaron Sell said men were 'designed for fighting' and the tougher they are, the more this influences their behaviour and attitudes.

Men are better designed to respond rapidly to threats, avoid something that is thrown at them or be able to catch it, and are better at taking a punch, he said. [...]

In political terms they tend to take the more right wing view - be it Conservative in the UK or Republican in the US.

The researchers looked at the political attitudes of actors in Hollywood and found those who played action stars were more likely to support military action by the US overseas.

The study said: "Those actors known for their physical strength and formidability, among them Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stallone, were more likely to support military action.

"Generally speaking, Hollywood actors are left wing, but the action stars among them were more likely than not to support the Republican position on foreign policy.