Low IQ & Conservative Beliefs Linked to Prejudice

[abayridgeguy]

By Stephanie Pappas | LiveScience.com – 7 hrs ago

There's no gentle way to put it: People who give in to racism and prejudice may simply be dumb, according to a new study that is bound to stir public controversy.

The research finds that children with low intelligence are more likely to hold prejudiced attitudes as adults. These findings point to a vicious cycle, according to lead researcher Gordon Hodson, a psychologist at Brock University in Ontario. Low-intelligence adults tend to gravitate toward socially conservative ideologies, the study found. Those ideologies, in turn, stress hierarchy and resistance to change, attitudes that can contribute to prejudice, Hodson wrote in an email to LiveScience.

"Prejudice is extremely complex and multifaceted, making it critical that any factors contributing to bias are uncovered and understood," he said.

Controversy ahead

The findings combine three hot-button topics.
"They've pulled off the trifecta of controversial topics," said Brian Nosek, a social and cognitive psychologist at the University of Virginia who was not involved in the study. "When one selects intelligence, political ideology and racism and looks at any of the relationships between those three variables, it's bound to upset somebody."
Polling data and social and political science research do show that prejudice is more common in those who hold right-wing ideals that those of other political persuasions, Nosek told LiveScience.
"The unique contribution here is trying to make some progress on the most challenging aspect of this," Nosek said, referring to the new study. "It's not that a relationship like that exists, but why it exists."

Brains and bias

Earlier studies have found links between low levels of education and higher levels of prejudice, Hodson said, so studying intelligence seemed a logical next step. The researchers turned to two studies of citizens in the United Kingdom, one that has followed babies since their births in March 1958, and another that did the same for babies born in April 1970. The children in the studies had their intelligence assessed at age 10 or 11; as adults ages 30 or 33, their levels of social conservatism and racism were measured.
In the first study, verbal and nonverbal intelligence was measured using tests that asked people to find similarities and differences between words, shapes and symbols. The second study measured cognitive abilities in four ways, including number recall, shape-drawing tasks, defining words and identifying patterns and similarities among words. Average IQ is set at 100.
Social conservatives were defined as people who agreed with a laundry list of statements such as "Family life suffers if mum is working full-time," and "Schools should teach children to obey authority." Attitudes toward other races were captured by measuring agreement with statements such as "I wouldn't mind working with people from other races." (These questions measured overt prejudiced attitudes, but most people, no matter how egalitarian, do hold unconscious racial biases; Hodson's work can't speak to this "underground" racism.)

As suspected, low intelligence in childhood corresponded with racism in adulthood. But the factor that explained the relationship between these two variables was political: When researchers included social conservatism in the analysis, those ideologies accounted for much of the link between brains and bias.

People with lower cognitive abilities also had less contact with people of other races.

"This finding is consistent with recent research demonstrating that intergroup contact is mentally challenging and cognitively draining, and consistent with findings that contact reduces prejudice," said Hodson, who along with his colleagues published these results online Jan. 5 in the journal Psychological Science.

A study of averages

Hodson was quick to note that the despite the link found between low intelligence and social conservatism, the researchers aren't implying that all liberals are brilliant and all conservatives stupid. The research is a study of averages over large groups, he said.

"There are multiple examples of very bright conservatives and not-so-bright liberals, and many examples of very principled conservatives and very intolerant liberals," Hodson said.

Nosek gave another example to illustrate the dangers of taking the findings too literally.

"We can say definitively men are taller than women on average," he said. "But you can't say if you take a random man and you take a random woman that the man is going to be taller. There's plenty of overlap."

Nonetheless, there is reason to believe that strict right-wing ideology might appeal to those who have trouble grasping the complexity of the world...
"Socially conservative ideologies tend to offer structure and order," Hodson said, explaining why these beliefs might draw those with low intelligence. "Unfortunately, many of these features can also contribute to prejudice."

In another study, this one in the United States, Hodson and Busseri compared 254 people with the same amount of education but different levels of ability in abstract reasoning. They found that what applies to racism may also apply to homophobia. People who were poorer at abstract reasoning were more likely to exhibit prejudice against gays. As in the U.K. citizens, a lack of contact with gays and more acceptance of right-wing authoritarianism explained the link.

Simple viewpoints

Hodson and Busseri's explanation of their findings is reasonable, Nosek said, but it is correlational. That means the researchers didn't conclusively prove that the low intelligence caused the later prejudice. To do that, you'd have to somehow randomly assign otherwise identical people to be smart or dumb, liberal or conservative. Those sorts of studies obviously aren't possible.
The researchers controlled for factors such as education and socioeconomic status, making their case stronger, Nosek said. But there are other possible explanations that fit the data. For example, Nosek said, a study of left-wing liberals with stereotypically naïve views like "every kid is a genius in his or her own way," might find that people who hold these attitudes are also less bright. In other words, it might not be a particular ideology that is linked to stupidity, but extremist views in general.

"My speculation is that it's not as simple as their model presents it," Nosek said. "I think that lower cognitive capacity can lead to multiple simple ways to represent the world, and one of those can be embodied in a right-wing ideology where 'People I don't know are threats' and 'The world is a dangerous place'. ... Another simple way would be to just assume everybody is wonderful."
Prejudice is of particular interest because understanding the roots of racism and bias could help eliminate them, Hodson said. For example, he said, many anti-prejudice programs encourage participants to see things from another group's point of view. That mental exercise may be too taxing for people of low IQ.

"There may be cognitive limits in the ability to take the perspective of others, particularly foreigners," Hodson said. "Much of the present research literature suggests that our prejudices are primarily emotional in origin rather than cognitive. These two pieces of information suggest that it might be particularly fruitful for researchers to consider strategies to change feelings toward outgroups," rather than thoughts.

[abayridgeguy]

WOULDN'T OUR TEXAS TWIT VALIDATE THIS...?

[sweepea]

LOL, I posted this yesterday in another thread just for him. Makes sense.

[c'est Moi!]

WOULDN'T OUR TEXAS TWIT VALIDATE THIS...?

You've validated this often enough here

[VirginiaDave]

WOULDN'T OUR TEXAS TWIT VALIDATE THIS...?

It certainly explains your racist comments.

[BobO 2.0]

Most conservatives are morons, just look at the conservatives on this board....they pretty much confirm the study.

[abayridgeguy]

WOULDN'T OUR TEXAS TWIT VALIDATE THIS...?

It certainly explains your racist comments.

????????????????

[VirginiaDave]

Most conservatives are morons, just look at the conservatives on this board....they pretty much confirm the study.

At least I can read the article. Give it a go, Bobbie.

[Horse]

Yes the "smart people" like Bob believe that space, matter, and energy all sprouted from absolute nothing.
Then somehow created the very complex intelligence found in DNA, to put those things together to form life.
Bob believes life sprouted from Non life...Bob believes it did it all by itself and for absolutely no reason at all.

How can anyone be so dumb?

[VirginiaDave]

Well Bobbie was correct about one poster.

[Horse]

Says the Catholic

[krakenblood]

what do you have against catholics?

[BobO 2.0]

It's also funny how the conservatives on this board are pretty much the failures of the board, bad jobs, can't hold a job, forced to move, poorly educated, intellectually uncurious. Stupid and a failure in life = conservative.

[Horse]

what do you have against catholics?

Virgina Dave represents them

[VirginiaDave]

what do you have against catholics?

Virgina Dave represents them

All of them. I am the Pope. Kiss my damn ring.

[VirginiaDave]

It's also funny how the conservatives on this board are pretty much the failures of the board, bad jobs, can't hold a job, forced to move, poorly educated, intellectually uncurious. Stupid and a failure in life = conservative.

You have one. Good work, Clouseau.

[krakenblood]

what do you have against catholics?

Virgina Dave represents them

while I disagree with Dave's political beliefs, I've never had any reason to disrespect him. And I know many catholics, since much of my family is Irish Catholic, so I don't know what you mean by that

[VirginiaDave]

what do you have against catholics?

Virgina Dave represents them

while I disagree with Dave's political beliefs, I've never had any reason to disrespect him. And I know many catholics, since much of my family is Irish Catholic, so I don't know what you mean by that

I'm bald though. You should make fun of that. It's HILARIOUS.

[Observateur]

what do you have against catholics?

But, you're a Catholic and like a good zombie, you believe whatever the pedophile priest tells you.

It's called prejudice and bigotry.

[Horse]

what do you have against catholics?

Virgina Dave represents them

while I disagree with Dave's political beliefs, I've never had any reason to disrespect him. And I know many catholics, since much of my family is Irish Catholic, so I don't know what you mean by that

Well Dave is the sort of Catholic who has his own religion and standards.

He sometimes listens to the Pope, but, mostly never listens to the Bible.

[VirginiaDave]

My bible doesn't speak.

[Horse]

I know Bay Ridge has a very small population of blacks in their community.
That could be for one of two reasons....They don't want blacks to come there or black people don't want to live there because of the prejudice they feel.

[krakenblood]

so you're complaint is he thinks for himself, and doesn't let some dude in a white hat tell him what to think?

[Horse]

My bible doesn't speak.

Figuratively speaking it does, and you ignore most all of it.

[krakenblood]

I know Bay Ridge has a very small population of blacks in their community.
That could be for one of two reasons....They don't want blacks to come there or black people don't want to live there because of the prejudice they feel.

yes, those are the only 2 possible reasons...

[VirginiaDave]

so you're complaint is he thinks for himself, and doesn't let some dude in a white hat tell him what to think?

He wears a red beanie too. Don't forget the red beanie.

[VirginiaDave]

My bible doesn't speak.

Figuratively speaking it does, and you ignore most all of it.

Not even figuratively. It just lays there. It's as lazy as a Texas Prison guard.

[Observateur]

so you're complaint is he thinks for himself, and doesn't let some dude in a white hat tell him what to think?

Which makes no sense, since Dan loathes Catholicism and has claimed it's not even "Christian."

[Horse]

so you're complaint is he thinks for himself, and doesn't let some dude in a white hat tell him what to think?

Well then, why call yourself a Catholic if you don't follow what Catholics are supposed to do and believe.

Just say you follow your own made up religion, and then call it the Bald Head Redskin Loser Fan religion.

[Horse]

My bible doesn't speak.

Figuratively speaking it does, and you ignore most all of it.

Not even figuratively. It just lays there.

Exactly....God came down here and died for you, and you couldn't care any less.

[Horse]

I know Bay Ridge has a very small population of blacks in their community.
That could be for one of two reasons....They don't want blacks to come there or black people don't want to live there because of the prejudice they feel.

yes, those are the only 2 possible reasons...

Feel free....to explain your reasons

[VirginiaDave]

so you're complaint is he thinks for himself, and doesn't let some dude in a white hat tell him what to think?

Well then, why call yourself a Catholic if you don't follow what Catholics are supposed to do and believe.

Just say you follow your own made up religion, and then call it the Bald Head Redskin Loser Fan religion.

I would totally rock that religion. I'd replace wine with beer, Dan Snyder would replace Satan and we'd only have to gather 8 times a year for "church" unless we decided to go to other "churches" during the season.

[Horse]

It's as lazy as a Texas Prison guard.

That's why turnover is so high....The fact is, you have no idea what I do and how hard the work is.

But,the truth is irreverent to a pretend Catholic like yourself.

[krakenblood]

only 8 times? you wouldn't meet for all Skins games?

[Observateur]

Dan is arguing just to kill time. VD's personal religious observance doesn't matter. Dan hates Catholicism, period, and has sprinkled his anti-Catholic bigotry all over BRT.

[Horse]

I would totally rock that religion. I'd replace wine with beer, Dan Snyder would replace Satan and we'd only have to gather 8 times a year for "church" unless we decided to go to other "churches" during the season.

Well said...

And then when you die, you get to go to the heaven you created too!

[Horse]

Dan is arguing just to kill time. VD's personal religious observance doesn't matter. Dan hates Catholicism, period, and has sprinkled his anti-Catholic bigotry all over BRT.

You're such a disappointment to so many!

[VirginiaDave]

Everyone knows what you do. "As little as possible" seems to be your own personal mantra.

[krakenblood]

the truth is irreverent

???

[Observateur]

It's as lazy as a Texas Prison guard.

That's why turnover is so high....The fact is, you have no idea what I do and how hard the work is.

But,the truth is irreverent to a pretend Catholic like yourself.

Also, you hate Catholicism.

[I know, but...!]

Horse's powers of pursuasion have me thinking about converting to the one true faith asap.

[Observateur]

Horse's powers of pursuasion have me thinking about converting to the one true faith asap.

I call it "reverse evangelizing."

[VirginiaDave]

only 8 times? you wouldn't meet for all Skins games?

I can't expect my followers to attend every game but they are always welcome to represent Bald Head Redskin Loser Fan religion freely as they see fit. I need to work something out with Directv though. There has to be some sort of "(bald) head of a religion" discount I can score.

[I know, but...!]

He has to be an agent for "Anonymous".

[Observateur]

He has to be an agent for "Anonymous".

Some BRTers thought that he might be a psycho anti-Christian who was trying to make Christianity look like sewage.

[I know, but...!]

Well he is that, whether he's aware or not is up for debate.

[Horse]

It's as lazy as a Texas Prison guard.

That's why turnover is so high....The fact is, you have no idea what I do and how hard the work is.

But,the truth is irreverent to a pretend Catholic like yourself.

Also, you hate Catholicism.

OB..get over yourself. I don't hate Catholics of Catholicism. According to the Bible, they're wrong, that's what I believe.

[VirginiaDave]

The bible also tells us this: 2 Kings 2:23-24

And don't you forget it.

[Observateur]

It's as lazy as a Texas Prison guard.

That's why turnover is so high....The fact is, you have no idea what I do and how hard the work is.

But,the truth is irreverent to a pretend Catholic like yourself.

Also, you hate Catholicism.

OB..get over yourself. I don't hate Catholics of Catholicism. According to the Bible, they're wrong, that's what I believe.

But, you're a Catholic and like a good zombie, you believe whatever the pedophile priest tells you.

This board is full of your anti-Catholic slurs ... which you then try to "explain" as non-hatred. That never works.

[Horse]

I have no idea where you got the idea I'm bald...I'm not.

Gray....but not bald.