A study conducted in Germany found that men with higher IQs are less inclined to traditional values, but the lead author, psychologist and intelligence researcher Maximilian Krolo of Saarland University, said the researchers did not find these differences among women.
from a logical standpoint, conservatism is lacking any kind of sense or logic. I think it’s safe to assume that, in order to follow blindly an idea that crumbles as soon as you critically think about it, you have to lack the ability to critically think.
What I think tho is that it’s empathy what we should link to intelligence (or whatever you want to call the skill set that allows you to question and critizice everything).
Conservatism is a lack of empathy (which comes with a lack of said “intelligence”).
Duh
In before everyone trashes IQ for being racist and pointless.
And I’m not saying it isn’t ethnocentric and a bit arbitrary. But walk around a Mensa meeting and you’ll see things in common.
Mostly that everyone is really socially inept if not outright problematic.
But 90% liberal, yeah.
Mensa is not a good selector. First off it not that high of an IQ requirement, second, they have to want to join Mensa. Real brilliant folks have little interest.
Let’s not pretend that the bright people skip MENSA to join the Federalist Society.
There’s a reason Trump switched parties to run for President, and it wasn’t because he wanted to target the best and brightest. He wanted rubes and he got them.
That’s why I’m top of the bell curve, babbyyyyyy
I think there’s a litany of problems with this assertion.
Firstly the sample size is 150 people, too small for any meaningful conclusion.
Secondly the article doesn’t make any attempt at a causal relationship. Are men with higher IQs more progressive because they have higher IQs? Or is there some other reason.
One hypothesis is simply that students in the 80s and 90s who were more comfortable with STEM work (and IQ tests) were more likely to go on to tertiary academic studies, and we know that there is a causal relationship between academic achievement and progressive politics. Given the era, perhaps women were less likely to follow that path than their male counterparts.
I’m not saying that’s the answer, it’s just an example of how statistical links aren’t always helpful.
150 is actually appropriate for this type of study and effect size.
Especially considering it was a longitudinal study that spanned 35 years. Impressive they could maintain that many participants.
Sure we could always use bigger samples but 150 is really good actually.
Secondly.
Causal research is a whole other thing.
Correlation research comes first. Once that’s established , Then causal research.
Causal research is much more different to conduct for social factors like this. Nearly impossible actually.
So don’t be surprised when such research doesn’t exist.
You can’t manipulate someone’s IQ. And you can’t really manipulate their political leaning.
There is no real way to run an experimental study to find out causes.
Best you can do is find more correlations.
and we know that there is a causal relationship between academic achievement and progressive politics
Do we know that? That’s actually a very strong claim, significantly stronger than the OP’s claim of correlation. For a comment about skepticism of statistical links, your rebuttal is more problematic than the original claim.
I’m bucking the trend
Nah. You might consider yourself as not intelligent (that’s your opinion, I can’t say since I don’t know you), but you have empathy. And it’s that, empathy (or lack of), what we should link to conservatism. I’ll take a dumb but empathetic person over a smart but psychopathic asshole every time.
Hear hear!
I also love self depreciating humour!
I also love self depreciating humour!
It’s not as good as it used to be.
Options: More conservative or lower IQ
Implication: Option #2
Secondary analysis: Good person
Interaction behavior: Amicable, but simple
Amicable, but simple
Gorsh
Thanks, youre pretty swell yourself :).
I like to say that I am smart enough to know im not :D, but, at least I like progressive policies.
To be liberal requires empathy. A deep understanding of others and their situations and the knowledge that your own personal needs dont always automatically outweigh others.
Empathy requires emotional intelligence.
Its easy to see it in action. Pick a problem and then look at the solutions offered by populist politicians to solve them.
In the UK one of the problems is immigrants arriving on small boats. The populist “solution”? “STOP THE BOATS” shouted far and wide.
How we ask?
And then silence. And when pressed, the likes of Reform offer more soundbites like “use the navy” and “send them back” but without any substance.
Meanwhile Liberal politicians offer actual solutions that are not sound bites, and they won’t work quickly. Things like working with the French to find and arrest the people organising it. Helping to improve facilities in France and the rest of Europe so the UK isn’t seen as somewhere an immigrant needs to travel to.
Basically, intelligent people aren’t fooled by meaningless slogans. Morons aren’t able to understand that deep problems require deep and complex solutions.
yea let’s fight white supremacy with white supremacy, that always works
Meanwhile, me:
*holding triangle block piece
…and you know what hole that goes in? That’s right, the square hole.
Teacher: “Good job Snot Flickerman, here’s a jar of paste you can eat.”
Correlation doesn’t imply causation, you can be a liberal and a dumb dumb, ask me how I know.
I mean, I find it interesting that this pattern does not exist among women.
Too bad the article doesn’t actually link the study.
EDIT: Oops, originally just linked to a figure from the document, heh.
yes and/or duh
Caring about IQ is stupid even when it validates your preconceptions.
Disregarding peer reviewed data is even worse I’d argue
I’ll regard it, but I’m not sure what useful conclusions can be drawn from it. This seems like polarization bait that lets left-of-center types feel smug about how much smarter they are than conservatives, and right-of-center types can indulge in a good pity party about how biased those socialist Europeans are against conservatives. Something for everybody, accomplishing nothing. Who gives a fuck about who has the higher IQ? What has it to do with whether a persons actions are just or unjust? Even if we take for granted that IQ is a reasonable measure of intelligence, intelligent people are just as capable of doing terrible, selfish things.
Imagine a scenario where this same study was conducted but it found that conservative men had higher IQs. Same study, same methodological rigor, different result. How would your opinions or beliefs about the world change? Would you be inclined to think that maybe conservatives are perhaps going about things the right way, by virtue of this study? I would hope not. Even if we could measure intelligence, hell, if we could even define intelligence cogently and comprehensively, what impact should that have on our decision making? Are “smarter” people considered more right? Or should statements be evaluated on their individual merits, regardless of the quantified “smartness” of the person who said them?
I think it should be the latter. IQ is at best a curiosity and it should have no place in the evaluation of government or social policy. Thank you for coming to my soapbox harangue.
Wtf happened to me then
Lead paint I’m guessing
Shit like this always gets posted. There’s not much meaningful connection between IQ and political views. Especially in a country like the US where both “sides” of the spectrum are just the same government with varying degrees of corporate cuckoldry
Okay? But this particular study was conducted in Germany. Not everything is about the US 🙄 also, we all know they’re all morons over there anyway
