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Intelligence Study Links Low I.Q. To Prejudice, Racism, Conservatism Joel Send a noteboard - 03/02/2012 08:58:00 PM
The Huffington Post Rebecca Searles
02/1/2012 8:52 am Updated: 02/1/2012 7:21 pm

Are racists dumb? Do conservatives tend to be less intelligent than liberals? A provocative new study from Brock University in Ontario suggests the answer to both questions may be a qualified yes.

The study, published in Psychological Science, showed that people who score low on I.Q. tests in childhood are more likely to develop prejudiced beliefs and socially conservative politics in adulthood.

I.Q., or intelligence quotient, is a score determined by standardized tests, but whether the tests truly reveal intelligence remains a topic of hot debate among psychologists.

Dr. Gordon Hodson, a professor of psychology at the university and the study's lead author, said the finding represented evidence of a vicious cycle: People of low intelligence gravitate toward socially conservative ideologies, which stress resistance to change and, in turn, prejudice, he told LiveScience.

Why might less intelligent people be drawn to conservative ideologies? Because such ideologies feature "structure and order" that make it easier to comprehend a complicated world, Dodson said. "Unfortunately, many of these features can also contribute to prejudice," he added.

Dr. Brian Nosek, a University of Virginia psychologist, echoed those sentiments.

"Reality is complicated and messy," he told The Huffington Post in an email. "Ideologies get rid of the messiness and impose a simpler solution. So, it may not be surprising that people with less cognitive capacity will be attracted to simplifying ideologies."

But Nosek said less intelligent types might be attracted to liberal "simplifying ideologies" as well as conservative ones.

In any case, the study has taken the Internet by storm, with some outspoken liberals saying that it validates their suspicions about conservatives and conservatives arguing that the research has been misinterpreted.

What do you think? Do conservatives tend to be less intelligent? Or is this just political opinion masquerading as science?

Note: I take no position either way on this studys proposals or conclusions. Just thought the CMB insufficiently political and confrontational at present, so I am referring (but not generating) subject material to do my part. I think I have a good idea of how this goes but, hey: Surprise me. Have fun; play nicely, if possible. :P
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Intelligence Study Links Low I.Q. To Prejudice, Racism, Conservatism - 03/02/2012 08:58:00 PM 1523 Views
I think ... - 03/02/2012 09:28:02 PM 1003 Views
I agree. - 03/02/2012 10:48:25 PM 1742 Views
Yeah, I am unsure whether to be impressed or disappointed. - 05/02/2012 02:38:05 AM 1940 Views
That is a logical and reasonable assessment. - 04/02/2012 08:59:59 PM 1924 Views
You think very well. - 05/02/2012 04:12:11 AM 1760 Views
note: "social conservatives", not "fiscal conservatives" - 03/02/2012 09:37:18 PM 1764 Views
I've wondered: - 03/02/2012 09:55:14 PM 1775 Views
It bothers the living fuck out of me - 03/02/2012 10:59:01 PM 1737 Views
Just wait ten years - 03/02/2012 11:21:25 PM 1662 Views
Oh, I still vote Republican. - 04/02/2012 01:49:43 AM 1660 Views
Re: Oh, I still vote Republican. - 04/02/2012 01:15:10 PM 1755 Views
Re: Just wait ten years - 04/02/2012 05:16:16 AM 1668 Views
By referencing it… - 03/02/2012 10:50:59 PM 1642 Views
That's an odd idea. - 03/02/2012 11:10:31 PM 1711 Views
It was a mostly facetious comment…. - 03/02/2012 11:49:28 PM 1092 Views
Clearly you endorse it. - 05/02/2012 02:23:41 AM 826 Views
Only endorsing its validity, not its soundness. *NM* - 04/02/2012 02:24:24 AM 497 Views
Tempting... - 03/02/2012 11:17:43 PM 982 Views
I expected no less. - 05/02/2012 12:25:14 AM 1008 Views
Still fun though - 05/02/2012 01:30:26 AM 1099 Views
Well, that is the main thing. - 05/02/2012 02:25:36 AM 1131 Views
Well, racists are dumb. What's to discuss? - 04/02/2012 01:23:27 AM 815 Views
I think that generally agreed, though we need a study PROVING what we already know. - 05/02/2012 12:41:26 AM 1094 Views
Proving is something you do in maths, not science. - 05/02/2012 09:05:30 AM 819 Views
So the Moon might still be made of green cheese? - 05/02/2012 10:20:57 AM 929 Views
Yes. It is not very likely, though, since no measurement we have done so far indicates that it is so - 05/02/2012 02:28:18 PM 775 Views
Oh, let us not go THERE. - 05/02/2012 02:54:30 PM 1005 Views
Bad comparison - 05/02/2012 03:36:12 PM 876 Views
Well, that last part will make sure this gets ugly.... - 04/02/2012 02:05:11 AM 707 Views
Do you not think it's true then? - 04/02/2012 07:32:13 AM 1025 Views
Same here *NM* - 04/02/2012 12:13:44 PM 413 Views
Not in my experience. - 04/02/2012 04:17:01 PM 924 Views
Granted, you do move in different circles than I (or Jens, for that matter.) - 04/02/2012 10:24:52 PM 871 Views
Corfirmational bias much? - 04/02/2012 04:25:24 PM 881 Views
I did mention that I didn't care enough to look into it. - 04/02/2012 10:22:09 PM 909 Views
As a few others have noted, it is important to preserve the causality chain. - 05/02/2012 02:35:02 AM 879 Views
I dont see that it matters. - 13/02/2012 01:40:45 AM 1079 Views

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