Society/Culture Why do less intelligent people gravitate to conservative/right wing ideology.

[Mofra]

The Daily Mail article reports upon a study by Gordon Hodson, a psychologist at Brock University in Ontario, Canada. (another Canadian Academic Psychologist but without a youtube presence). He looked at data from 2 UK studies testing child development. The subjects were
(a) 4,267 boys and 4,537 girls born in 1958;
(b) 3,412 boys and 3,658 girls born in 1970.

The tests were of
(c) verbal and non verbal intelligence; and
(d) cognitive abilities (number recall, shape-drawing tasks, defining words and identifying patterns and similarities among words).

In both surveys, 23 years later, the same groups were asked to answer a series of questions about traditions, authority and attitudes toward other races. Hodson then postulated a definition of conservatism which is undefined but looks to be based upon attitudes towards Authority and other races and concluded that low-intelligence adults tend to gravitate toward socially conservtive ideologies.

I’d very cautious about accepting the conclusions drawn by Grin and his gaggle of applauders from the article helpfully posted by Mofra

So would I.

Here's a meta-analysis that's far more wide ranging.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/55893129.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiZksKNiq38AhWmwjgGHVyFAdQQFnoECC0QAQ&usg=AOvVaw2xHhvNmp4MW8yHxMsywA_c

There is a significant body of work on the subject. Assuming the entire concept is based off a single study is folly.

 

[ElectricG]

Assumption without demonstration. Demonstrate that the left are contemptuous towards the working class, and we can talk.

Or we could just talk? I don’t see you providing citations for the things you say in this thread. You are just sharing your views which are derived from your own observations and experiences. I.e., being allowed to just talk like a normal person.

I think the repeated accusation that the unwashed masses “vote against their interest” comes from this train of thought. The insinuation being that the conservative voter is too stupid to know what’s good for them, because it’s Labor who will give them their minimum wage increase. Brad Goodman’s post subtly talks about the “hand they’ve been dealt“ which makes us think of people of modest means. Also the bad food/obesity/laziness analogy a few posts back.

 

[Todman]

Obviously there's overwhelming research linking stupid people with socially conservative and right wing beliefs. : Do stupid people find simplistic views of the world more reassuring?

No point arguing with the smartest person in the room.

 

[Stokey]

Obviously there's overwhelming research linking stupid people with socially conservative and right wing beliefs. I'm not going to argue this very well established fact here.
My question is why? For example: Do stupid people find simplistic views of the world more reassuring?

My feeling is that dumb people are obviously much easier to manipulate.
Because the right only represents the interests of only a very small minority of the population, they need to con a significant number of people into voting against their own interests. Fear is generated amongst the stupid through the creation and distribution of conspiracy theories, and the poor dumb f***s flock in droves.
It's the oldest political trick in the book. Of course, once you've tricked these idiots into believing various implausible conspiracy theories, they will angrily and violently defend their moronic ideology to the detriment of themselves and society in general, but to the benefit of a very small minority.

I don't have great insight into the mindset of our intellectually challenged conservative or right wing fellow Ausies. They often just make me sh my head in disbelief that anyone could be so incredibly gullible. I'd be interested in your thoughts so I might better understand their apparently irrational ideology and behavior.

It really is very simple.

You think that anyone who doesnt agree with your narrow, woke world view is stupid.

That doesn't make them stupid. it just means they disagree with you.

Is really is you who can't see an alternative viewpoint so your only way of consuming alternate viewpoints is to call it stupid.

Most conservative, right leaning people don't care what government does. They live their life in spite of it.

Left leaning people however need to be directed and have the warm embrace of government to tell them how to live your lives.

Once the left realise that it is themselves and not authority that have the biggest say on their lives they will be infinitely happier

 

[Grin]

When did the left become so contemptuous towards the working class, by the way?

You mean those horrible people who Trump and Palmer et.al. have convinced you are the elites?

 

[Grin]

It really is very simple.

You think that anyone who doesnt agree with your narrow, woke world view is stupid.

That doesn't make them stupid. it just means they disagree with you.

Is really is you who can't see an alternative viewpoint so your only way of consuming alternate viewpoints is to call it stupid.

Most conservative, right leaning people don't care what government does. They live their life in spite of it.

Left leaning people however need to be directed and have the warm embrace of government to tell them how to live your lives.

Once the left realise that it is themselves and not authority that have the biggest say on their lives they will be infinitely happier

What a great example of what I'm talking about. So cliched as to be easily confused with a parody Thanks for joining in the discussion

Can I ask you a couple of questions, how did you gain your non narrow, non woke view of the world? I imagine in your mind didn't get them from right wing propagandists. You would have learned them through you degree in life from the university of hard knocks, yes? Where did you get words like woke? What does it mean to you? When you use words like that, does that indicate, is it a sign to other lower IQ righties that you, like them are an independent thinker?

 

[ElectricG]

What a great example of what I'm talking about. So cliched as to be easily confused with a parody Thanks for joining in the discussion

Can I ask you a couple of questions, how did you gain your non narrow, non woke view of the world? I imagine in your mind didn't get them from right wing propagandists. You would have learned them through you degree in life from the university of hard knocks, yes? Where did you get words like woke? What does it mean to you? When you use words like that, does that indicate, is it a sign to other lower IQ righties that you, like them are an independent thinker?

You are sounding pretty unhinged here mate.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

Easily manipulated and gullible

 

[Stokey]

What a great example of what I'm talking about. So cliched as to be easily confused with a parody Thanks for joining in the discussion

Can I ask you a couple of questions, how did you gain your non narrow, non woke view of the world? I imagine in your mind didn't get them from right wing propagandists. You would have learned them through you degree in life from the university of hard knocks, yes? Where did you get words like woke? What does it mean to you? When you use words like that, does that indicate, is it a sign to other lower IQ righties that you, like them are an independent thinker?

I grew up on a farm. Went to primary school of 70 kids total.

We had 5 bushfires including Ash Wednesday threaten us and many I know lost everything.
If that doesn't give you a sense of community, nothing will.

I schooled locally then went to Uni in Geelong before moving to Melbourne for 10 years. I have now been in the UK for 13 years where I have built my family.

I have come from a conservative area and now live in one London's most Labour areas. All my friends are left leaning but not really woke.

I see woke as a function of social media.

You used to be activist at Uni and then move into the real world. Social media hasn't allowed many to move on from Uni politics so they stay entrenched in things that aren't really that important to leading a happy fulfilling life.

It's just too easy to jump on the next hashtag then ditch it when the next one comes along.

 

[Gethelred]

Or we could just talk? I don’t see you providing citations for the things you say in this thread. You are just sharing your views which are derived from your own observations and experiences. I.e., being allowed to just talk like a normal person.

I think the repeated accusation that the unwashed masses “vote against their interest” comes from this train of thought. The insinuation being that the conservative voter is too stupid to know what’s good for them, because it’s Labor who will give them their minimum wage increase. Brad Goodman’s post subtly talks about the “hand they’ve been dealt“ which makes us think of people of modest means. Also the bad food/obesity/laziness analogy a few posts back.

You asked a question that assumed something. I can't answer your question until you've proven that assumption.

So, prove that the left hold the working classes in contempt, or acknowledge that you were asking a provocative question without basis.

 

[ElectricG]

You asked a question that assumed something. I can't answer your question until you've proven that assumption.

So, prove that the left hold the working classes in contempt, or acknowledge that you were asking a provocative question without basis.

You absolutely can, you just won’t.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

The racism of the right like Tucker Carlson and the Daily Mail appeals to dumber people as it's a simple message that all your problems are caused by immigrants and that you are a good decent white person.

 

[CM86]

You absolutely can, you just won’t.

It's like asking "Have you stopped beating your wife?".

No matter the answer, it confirms your assumption.

It's bad faith.

 

[Gethelred]

You absolutely can, you just won’t.

No, I can't. The question is too broad without a series of facts to narrow it down. I could answer it with "Because they think they smell" and it'd be just as pertinent as anything else, because there is no basis for the assertion that the left hold the working class in contempt.

Either provide a basis for your question's merit to allow me to answer it, or acknowledge that you were asking a provocative question without a basis. Those are your options.

 

[Stokey]

The racism of the right like Tucker Carlson and the Daily Mail appeals to dumber people as it's a simple message that all your problems are caused by immigrants and that you are a good decent white person.

I thought all their problems and rights were tMen away by an Uncle Tom and the White Taliban.

Amazing you're still running with this. Just shows how comfortable you are saying shit things amongst your left-leaning peers.

 

[ElectricG]

It's like asking "Have you stopped beating your wife?".

No matter the answer, it confirms your assumption.

It's bad faith.

I cited a few examples where people are implying poor and lower income people get sucked into the right because they’re too dumb to know better, or because their low standing in life has embittered them. I don’t know what else you guys want, and you are trying to hold me to an unreasonable standard for a forum post. Also “since when did…” is a way of asking a rhetorical question, so it’s not like the wife beating question. It’s just me stating that the people who probably otherwise consider themselves allies to the downtrodden are happy to sh*t on them when it suits them.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

I thought all their problems and rights were tMen away by an Uncle Tom and the White Taliban.

Amazing you're still running with this. Just shows how comfortable you are saying s**t things amongst your left-leaning peers.

People like yourself who have Tucker Carlson as their hero are very sad.
I think people who don't have a great intellectual capacity, see things through a simplified prism eg Tucker is funny and hates lefties and he always dresses neatly and looks decent so I'll go on his side sort of thing.
But in reality it's just straight out racism to make poor sods feel better about themselves.

 

[cartwright]

My question is why? For example: Do stupid people find simplistic views of the world more reassuring?

Basically, yes.

The older conservative types: “I got mine”.

The younger alt-right types: “someone must have kept me down, and it’s not old conservatives, it’s women or lgbtqi or brown people”

 

[Gethelred]

I cited a few examples where people are implying poor and lower income people get sucked into the right because they’re too dumb to know better, or because their low standing in life has embittered them. I don’t know what else you guys want, and you are trying to hold me to an unreasonable standard for a forum post. Also “since when did…” is a way of asking a rhetorical question, so it’s not like the wife beating question. It’s just me stating that the people who probably otherwise consider themselves allies to the downtrodden are happy to sh*t on them when it suits them.

So, you were asking a provocative question and weren't really interested in the answer. You could've said that a few posts ago.

 

[Grin]

You are sounding pretty unhinged here mate.

Just curious. I'm keen to learn. I'm hoping for honest responses like some have kindly contributed, not defensive ones like yours please.

 

[ElectricG]

Just curious. I'm keen to learn. I'm hoping for honest responses like some have kindly contributed, not defensive ones like yours please.

There is zero chance that you’re not here to troll.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

I grew up on a farm. Went to primary school of 70 kids total.

We had 5 bushfires including Ash Wednesday threaten us and many I know lost everything.
If that doesn't give you a sense of community, nothing will.

I schooled locally then went to Uni in Geelong before moving to Melbourne for 10 years. I have now been in the UK for 13 years where I have built my family.

I have come from a conservative area and now live in one London's most Labour areas. All my friends are left leaning but not really woke.

I see woke as a function of social media.

You used to be activist at Uni and then move into the real world. Social media hasn't allowed many to move on from Uni politics so they stay entrenched in things that aren't really that important to leading a happy fulfilling life.

It's just too easy to jump on the next hashtag then ditch it when the next one comes along.

Woke just means awareness of social justice issues not some leftist conspiracy.
A lot of right wingers have no idea what social justice means.

 

[Stokey]

People like yourself who have Tucker Carlson as their hero are very sad.
I think people who don't have a great intellectual capacity, see things through a simplified prism eg Tucker is funny and hates lefties and he always dresses neatly and looks decent so I'll go on his side sort of thing.
But in reality it's just straight out racism to make poor sods feel better about themselves.

I think it is you who lacks the intellectual capacity. You see Tucker or Fox News and you disengage because I think you're actually afraid you might learn something. You don't have the capacity to hear the other side.

Tucker is far from my hero, I agree with a lot but I wholeheartedly disagree with his stance on guns for one.

Tucker is one of many people I listen to and read from the left and right. You should try getting your opinions from somewhere other than your Twitter feed

It might liberate you from you current, narrow minded racist ways.

 

[Grin]

There is zero chance that you’re not here to troll.

You're not obliged to contribute. But the question was never are right wingers and socially conservatives more likely to be of a lower IQ. That's been established. I'm curious as to why? If you don't have any insights, that's absolutely fine.

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

I think it is you who lacks the intellectual capacity. You see Tucker or Fox News and you disengage because I think you're actually afraid you might learn something. You don't have the capacity to hear the other side.

Tucker is far from my hero, I agree with a lot but I wholeheartedly disagree with his stance on guns for one.

Tucker is one of many people I listen to and read from the left and right. You should try getting your opinions from somewhere other than your Twitter feed

It might liberate you from you current, narrow minded racist ways.

The 'Great replacement theory' is just flat out straight racism and that's what you nail your post to.
If you're going to defend racist theories then ecpect to be called out on it.
At least be honest that you're racist.

 

[Grin]

Stokey for example is providing an explanation: That conspiracies and right wing propaganda is an alternative view, and is not bullshit propaganda aimed at manipulating the gullible. That by listening to it, you might just learn something. For example, that liberal minded politicians are actually all pedophiles running sophisticated child sex slave syndicates via pizza shops.