University of Minnesota: “Smart people are more likely to be left-handed”

A new study found that higher IQ scores “are associated with a range of left-leaning and liberal political beliefs.”

In 2012, a study published in Psychological Science found that children with “lower general intelligence” were more likely to become prejudiced as adults and adopt “right-wing ideologies” as a result

Psychology researchers at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, studied more than 300 families as part of the study and concluded, in a new paper in the journal Intelligence, that being more intelligent “is associated with a range of left-leaning and liberal political beliefs ».

The association
The researchers measured the participants’ intelligence using both IQ and genetic markers of intelligence, known as polygenic scores. They examined participants’ political beliefs by controlling for five variables: “political orientation, authoritarianism, egalitarianism, social liberalism, and fiscal conservatism.”

“Polygene scores predicted social liberalism and lower authoritarianism, within families. Intelligence was able to significantly predict social liberalism and lower authoritarianism, within families, even after controlling for socioeconomic variables,” the researchers wrote in the journal.

“Our findings may provide the strongest conclusion yet on the direct effect of intelligence on political beliefs.”

“How intelligence affects our beliefs likely depends on our environment and culture. Looking back through history, we can see that intelligent people are attracted to all kinds of different and often contradictory ideas.”

“We find that both IQ and genetic markers of intelligence […] they can help predict which of the two siblings tends to be more liberal. It’s siblings with the same upbringing, growing up under the same roof,” study author Tobias Edwards told PsyPost.

“This suggests that intelligence is linked to political beliefs, not just because of environment or upbringing, but rather that genetic variation in intelligence may play a role in influencing our political differences.” The paper added that anomalies exist and that “the association may be confounded or mediated by socioeconomic factors.”

Right-wing views or prejudices
Additionally, it is worth noting that IQ tests are not always an accurate indicator of intelligence, and that some right-wing figures have expressed racist beliefs, sharing pseudoscientific ideas about IQ, genetics, and race.

However, several other studies have been conducted in recent years that show similar findings. One of them from 2019, published in the journal Emotion, revealed that people with lower emotional intelligence were more likely to hold right-wing views or prejudices (a 2017 study reached a similar conclusion).

In 2012, a study published in Psychological Science found that children with “lower general intelligence” were more likely to become prejudiced as adults and adopt “right-wing ideologies” as a result.

However, Edwards emphasized that political beliefs are complex and amorphous, and it would be reductive to draw blanket conclusions. “There is no law that says intelligent people must always support certain beliefs or ideologies,” he said.

“How intelligence affects our beliefs likely depends on our environment and culture. Looking back through history, we can see that intelligent people are attracted to all kinds of different and often contradictory ideas.”

Source: in.gr