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

[Flummoxed Lummox]

More science to back up what I said in an earlier thread. I can't wait to read the ad hominem attacks on the scientist, because conservatives can't legitimately refute the data.

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.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/intelligence-study-links-prejudice_n_1237796.html

Wanna bet this guy isn't voting for Obama?

[Charleston]

Before you know it, they will link it to Christianity.  The academic and liberal elitist are very bold with the statements to the media and will say or publish anything to belittle their opposition.  They can't win on the issues so they attack the character of their opponents.  It is almost the only strategy they have.  The other is lying.  

[Jeremy Roenick]

 

Science!  Science! (In my best Jim Mora inflection).   Like science is absolute....   

[Flummoxed Lummox]

Before you know it, they will link it to Christianity.  The academic and liberal elitist are very bold with the statements to the media and will say or publish anything to belittle their opposition.  They can't win on the issues so they attack the character of their opponents.  It is almost the only strategy they have.  The other is lying.  

Oh please. The studies have nothing to do with religion. There are both conservatives and liberals who practice any number of religions, including Christianity. Not everyone is a conservative, fundamentalist Southern Baptist. There are liberal Christians. Jesus was the first liberal of your faith.

And, as expected, rather than refute the data, you guys make sweeping ad hominem attacks on the scientists who investigate these questions.

[Sasquatch]

Yet your other "scientist" told us black women are ugly. Brilliant observation and not the least bit racist!

The best part of the article you linked from the huff post:

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

I think the 2nd part of that statement pretty well sums it up. 

[MRM]

Why is it linked or even assumed that this is only for white conservatives? There are blacks out there with low IQs as well and they are not conservative. I think it works both ways, but they'll never say it.

[Flummoxed Lummox]

Yet your other "scientist" told us black women are ugly. Brilliant observation and not the least bit racist!

The best part of the article you linked from the huff post:

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

I think the 2nd part of that statement pretty well sums it up. 

"Black women are ugly" is a racist OPINION, not a scientific conclusion. Scientists are people too my friend (to steal from Romney's line). They have flaws, including some of them who might be racist. Their scientific RESEARCH is another thing. Whatever findings their research produces is subject to peer review and retesting. As far as I know, I have not seen a legitimate study that refutes the two I have posted. If another study finds conflicting results (i.e. people with lower IQ's tend to grow up liberal), then we can have an argument.

You guys have yet to post an intelligent response that refutes the data. I've posted two studies, from different countries, that concluded those with lower IQ's tend to gravitate toward conservatism. That doesn't mean all conservatives are "dumb" or that all liberals are intelligent. If you don't agree, refute the data. The ad hominem attacks are silly. They only prove you don't like the findings.

[NCVol]

The main issue I have with these kinds of studies is they deal with big numbers.  It's interesting and potentially important to know what drives, for example, racism.  And it's undoubtedly true that most of the racists I've been unfortunate enough to know are certified idiots, with low self esteem or other serious personal issues, and use blacks/hispanics/muslims as a punching bag like someone who would kick the dog or beat their wife after getting fired.  But I'm sure there are highly intelligent racists, who actually believe that European whites are genetically superior race. 

And so if you looked at the racists in this study, you'd find smart ones and dumb ones, and on average, the racist population would be allegedly slightly dumber than the non-racists on average.  But when you present the results to the public, it's interpreted as, "Racists are dumb" non-racists are "smart" and then a person looks around and says, well, here's a really, really stupid non-racist/liberal so the results are BOGUS!!!  And that is, of course, not what the study shows, or pretends to show, it's how people falsely interpret it. 

The other problem is I don't think there is a philosophy behind much of politics these days.  Ask what is best for the plutocrats, and that's what is supported.  And then the propagandists jam that square peg into the round hole of whatever "philosophy" they need to.  And when that's not possible, it just becomes definitional - war mongering and a support for the empire is "conservative" because that's what "conservatives" support.  High deficits and low tax rates are "conservative" because that's what conservatives support.  I'll let you conservatives fill in your 'liberal" examples.... 

[Shimmy]

There is a difference between socially conservative and politically conservative.  You did at least point out that this is referring to socially conservative people, even if later you mixed the two.  The politically conservative part of me wonders who the hell paid for this study?

[Sasquatch]

Dear Lord, I think I kind of agree with NCVol. 

[Jeremy Roenick]

I'm going to clue you liberals in on something regarding racism.

Racism is bias ergo prejudice ergo pride ergo sin.  A truly racist person has a big problem with sin in their lives.  And they can be liberal, conservative, moderate etc.  I've seen racism on full display by all parties.  In manifests itself in different ways.  The very crude make no apologies about their racism and display it in everyone's full view.  Then there are those who are more secretive with their racism, who try to keep it covered up.  They move to the other side of the street when approaching someone of another race or they clutch their bag with two hands when walking past, or they only say things in private regarding their racism.  It's all, whether crudely public or hidden in private, still racism.

Furthermore, if you watch the interaction of young children in multi-racial groups playing, there is NO racism, prejudice etc. present.  Further reinforcing my notion that racism is "learned" by watching adults.  It is a behavior.  No group, or groups is more or less subject than the other.  If you watch kids play, young kids who haven't been subjected to racism by their parents yet, nor probably old enough to understand it, they interact in a manner that is truly color-blind.  It is not until a child learns racism from an adult that they begin to carry the same prejudices and behaviors associated with racism.

[Jeremy Roenick]

I submit to you exhibit "A"...   African-American talk show host loses It with African-American female GOP candidate: ‘Get your stupid a**’ out & I‘m scared your ’Whiteness’ might rub off on me.'

I'm certain this man is not white, and I'm fairly certain he is not conservative.  You need to watch the whole video (at the link), but the pertinent display of outright racism is in the youtube video.

http://www.mrctv.org/videos/memphis-talk-radio-host-humiliates-black-gop-candidate

Racist Thaddeus Matthews interviewing a black republican woman