Bright Minds and Dark Attitudes

[Murky]

There is a paper from a study about how lower cognitive ability predicts greater prejudice.

Bright Minds and Dark Attitudes: Lower
Cognitive Ability Predicts Greater Prejudice
Through Right-Wing Ideology and Low
Intergroup Contact

Abstract
Despite their important implications for interpersonal behaviors and relations, cognitive abilities have been largely ignored as
explanations of prejudice. We proposed and tested mediation models in which lower cognitive ability predicts greater prejudice,
an effect mediated through the endorsement of right-wing ideologies (social conservatism, right-wing authoritarianism) and
low levels of contact with out-groups. In an analysis of two large-scale, nationally representative United Kingdom data sets
(N = 15,874), we found that lower general intelligence (g) in childhood predicts greater racism in adulthood, and this effect
was largely mediated via conservative ideology. A secondary analysis of a U.S. data set confirmed a predictive effect of poor
abstract-reasoning skills on antihomosexual prejudice, a relation partially mediated by both authoritarianism and low levels of
intergroup contact. All analyses controlled for education and socioeconomic status. Our results suggest that cognitive abilities
play a critical, albeit underappreciated, role in prejudice. Consequently, we recommend a heightened focus on cognitive ability
in research on prejudice and a better integration of cognitive ability into prejudice models.

http://pss.sagepub.com/content/23/2/187.full.pdf+html

So to put it in simpler terms; low childhood scores indicate future tendency towards prejudice and right-wing ideology. Could this help explain why there seems to be core group of right-wing people who don't accept the theory of evolution or anthropogenic global warming? How much will that influence their tendency to vote for those who would do a lot more harm than good?

 

[Ayn Rand]

There's already an intellectual pedestal thread started on this

 

[Murky]

There's already an intellectual pedestal thread started on this

I'm just trying to better understand people, who they are and where their ideology comes from.

edit:

A better question to ask might be what can we do in early childhood education to try to prevent teen/adult prejudice?

 

[IdiotsOpposite]

I hate everyone. Am I prejudiced?

Spoiler :

Yes, I am. Against humans.