A large 28-year study in Norway reveals that mental health issues starting in adolescence predict distinct adult voting habits. Researchers found early anxiety or disruptive behaviors are linked to specific ideologies and lower trust in government by midlife.
I agree with you that it tracks the way you read it. But, they might be using the terms to mean internalizing as mental health issues (anxiety, depression) and externalizing as behavioural issues (rule breaking). This also tracks, at least in my experience.
Fear is a huge thing that should be looked at. Perhaps there is a different term used in psychology. Jealousy too. The right wing people I have to hear can be summarized as: fearful, jealous, and prone to overreaction, but not about real threats like COVID or global warming.