Intelligence Study Links Low I.Q. To Prejudice, Racism, Conservatism

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?

Comments

[mra500]

04:16 AM on 03/28/2012

Well, this will blow your minds:
A study from the University College, London (see www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/1012/1012/10122301) strongly suggests that the brain structures of liberals and conservatives are different. "People with liberal views tended to have increased grey matter in the anterior cingulated cortex, a region of the brain linked to decision-making." Conservatives have "increased grey matter in the amygdala, an area of the brain associated with processing emotion." So conservatives tend to get angry and frightened more easily and do not reason as well.

Check out the study for yourselves. I always thought conservatives seemed less able to deal with facts that conflicted with their childhood programming; this study seems to say why. Put these 2 studies together, and you have a picture of people with lower IQs who adopt conservative philosophies and have smaller ability to understand the complexities of our world. Interesting, yes?
A different breed of human? Feels like it to me.

[Tom Iarossi]

12:27 AM on 03/27/2012

I think is point about "simplifying ideologies" is well taken. Conservative thought these days seems to be dominated by simplistic, bumper-sticker perspectives on insanely complex issues, and in the political realm, "conservative" traditionally means "one who seeks to conserve what is". Both add up to people seeking easy answers.

[CKK777]

11:26 AM on 03/26/2012

This article is half true. Yes, racism is a definite indicator of low I.Q. However, as a well educated, Bible believing Christian who has studied doctrine and many religions, I take issue with the anti-religion propaganda in this "study."

I'm sorry Ms. Searles, but that's not a very intelligent thing to do.

[Marlon Cabrera]

10:33 AM on 03/27/2012

So believing in a talking snake, talking donkey, the Universe is 6k years, the sun and stars where created after the light, someone can be physically reassemble after death etc. does not represent low IQ but can qualified someone as an "educated" person? Absurd, a title doesn't necessarily mean educated.

In fact this "study" is incomplete because it does not mentioned the religious aspect of people with low IQ. The reality is that is a safe assumption that the more religious someone is the lower their IQ. Faith is not a virtue but totally the opposite.

[tmzrules]

10:03 PM on 03/25/2012

It might be true but then again I know plenty of smart people who are racists as well.

[Sass87]

06:06 PM on 03/26/2012

Not so smart after all..?

[forestnfama]

08:03 PM on 03/25/2012

Rare indeed is an intelligent conservative......more like an oxymoron.....

[krivka]

07:13 PM on 03/25/2012

Its really easier to understand than that.
Ask a person if they are religious, if yes, then ask if they REALLY believe the things that are in whatever book they believe was handed down by God X, if yes, then ask if they believe the world is 6000 years old, if yes, run away as fast as you can, because you are in big trouble.

[10181854]

08:35 AM on 03/25/2012

They feel irrelevant and want to be relevant!!!! that is social behavior. Maslow theory of hierarchy!!!

Superiority in skin color. If Green people was in a superiority economically they would want to be green. Case in point keep it simple.......

[Kludde]

03:04 PM on 03/22/2012

Anyone that doggedly adheres to any type of social ideology (Religious, Political, etc) with out the willingness to questioning that belief given knew information; or allow others to question or disagree with that belief, shows signs of low intellect.

It has been shown in studies that people seek out those that have similar intellectual potential as themselves. Those with lower intellect can find those with higher intellect to be condescending, while those of higher intellect find those of lower intellect to be boorish.

All in all I just remember this ideal: It is the duty of the wise and the strong to educate and protect those that are naive and weak not berate and enslave them.

[Trollstein]

04:59 AM on 03/22/2012

I would say that the entire concept interrelates to honesty. I think that conservatives lie to themselves while liberals (nowadays) more often lie externally. Neither promotes intelligence. The damage however is different.
Ask oneself a question: Is it remotely possible that 50% of the general public is wrong 100% of the time?
If you answered yes, you are not being honest. Of course its impossible. If you answered no, why are you part of any group who accepts positions which are (at least partly) wrong?
Answer: Because its so much easier that way. Being independent does not automatically solve this problem either. What if one's independent positions are the worst conclusions from both political sides? As I said, its so much easier to just pick a side.
But picking either side has its consequences. For example: "Lowering taxes will balance our budget". Of course. . ! By that reasoning, eliminating taxes altogether would produce a surplus of revenue . . !
On the other side: "International law is superior to national law". It isn't. Not in the United States. There is no "one world government" and thank God for that.
In the first example, the conservs are lying to themselves. In the second example, liberals are lying to the conservs. Lying to one's self (turns out) to be more costly to brain function then lying to others. When one lies to oneself, one is both the lier and the joker who believes it.

[alma parker]

12:29 PM on 03/22/2012

But has anybody ever actually said "Lowering our taxes will balance the budget." ? What does this even mean?

[Trollstein]

02:58 PM on 03/22/2012

Commonly parroted. Ever watch Fox news? Sturat Varney has his own show and this is a central theme with him. Same with Steve Forbes. They claim we can grow our way out of the deficite.

[Joel Mendez]

02:31 AM on 03/22/2012

SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Doktorkev]

01:52 AM on 03/22/2012

This also just in,,,,, water is wet.

[werewolf90210]

10:51 PM on 03/21/2012

This shouldn't surprise anyone!! LOL!!! Social conservatives....how are those BIG Braaynes working out for ya???

[DreamWeaver2nd]

02:45 AM on 03/22/2012

Hey, Wolfie: This report is an answer to some questions, while at the same time it is very alarming. Especially with lying propaganda on our air waves pumping dumb into their heads 24/7. What can we do about what may be truly genetically dumb?

[werewolf90210]

12:49 PM on 03/22/2012

Good morning my friend. I do agree with you - we have a propaganda problem in the US, perpetrated by those on the right who are in a position (media pundits) to continuously muddy the airwaves with lies and distortions. The extreme left will sometimes distort as well, to suit their purposes, but most of the real distortions seem to come from the right. We also have a chronic "under education" problem coupled with the social disease of right wing, religious bigotry. Excessive churchiness? lol I try and find good descriptors for difficult, nebulous problems. People have to "want" to learn, they have to want to improve their lives, and sadly, many just do not care or have no intention of altering their thinking. I call this "willful ignorance", when a person is presented with facts, and still doesn't care, continuing on as they were before. As for the genetically dumb? Well...lol, bless um. Even the dull and ignorant, they too have their story. The continued stability of our society depends on making sure they have a Constitutional right to express their opinions (as we all treasure that right), but we as a country can't afford one as President. It's a constant battle between education and simple minded ideology. A pleasure to see you as always.

[Contact1972]

02:57 AM on 03/22/2012

There was a study done recently that found Cluster Fox watchers knew less about the news than people who didn't watch any news at all. That's saying something.

[werewolf90210]

03:18 AM on 03/22/2012

That's because they aren't really interested in news. They are only interested in having their opinions validated by other ignorant commentators. ;) I'm outta here for now. Have a great night all!

[wa-st-concerned]

08:37 PM on 03/21/2012

I would think that the actions of conservatives proves out the study.........

[ninjasrolled]

08:22 PM on 03/21/2012

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

Yeah, but here's the thing. Liberal views tend to be nuanced and empathetic - it's the ability to see beyond ones' own experience and understand others' worldview. There is no black and white solution - liberals understand it as complex and interconnected. So no, liberal ideology is anything but simplified.

[pjlim]

07:50 PM on 03/21/2012

Well, knock me over with a feather! I never would have guessed.....other than reading their signs.