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.

 

[Grin]

Because you are misguided.

Maybe. There's a thread to discuss that

 

[bzparkes]

Even ASIO has come out and said that far right extremism is the biggest problem we face.

ASIO certainly aren't lefties, and this was said under Dutton's watch.

It'd be greatly helpful if they were a little more specific on how far right extremism is defined.

Are they talking KKK, Proud Boys or Islamic extremism here?

 

[bzparkes]

Maybe. There's a thread to discuss that

Which you apparently don't want to post in because it doesn't suit your narrative.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

It'd be greatly helpful if they were a little more specific on how far right extremism is defined.

Are you talking KKK, Proud Boys or Islamic extremism here?

People that buy plastic flags from Coles, probably. Cronulla riot types.

 

[ElectricG]

It'd be greatly helpful if they were a little more specific on how far right extremism is defined.

Are you talking KKK, Proud Boys or Islamic extremism here?

Surely ASIO wouldn’t include Islamic extremism in that stat…

 

[Grin]

“bUt yOu Can’t tAlK aBouT That hEre”

Unbelievable stuff.

I acknowledge that staying on topic is a very big ask for some. Some might even insist an unbearable injustice. But the lack of mental capacity to focus merely supports the premise, which is not up for debate in this thread.
Theres a couple of other threads for that.

 

[bzparkes]

Surely ASIO wouldn’t include Islamic extremism in that stat…

They should, they're right-wing extremists.

Wouldn't be very PC to announce it publicly though.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

Surely ASIO wouldn’t include Islamic extremism in that stat…

Islamic extremism would fall under religious extremism, but they do share a lot of values with the far right.
There's good reason why people were calling the red hatted Americans Vanilla Isis.

 

[Grin]

Which you apparently don't want to post in because it doesn't suit your narrative.

I've posted in both. I even created one of them.
I know. I'm a great guy.

 

[ElectricG]

They should, they're right-wing extremists.

Wouldn't be very PC to announce it publicly though.

Islamic extremism would fall under religious extremism, but they do share a lot of values with the far right.
There's good reason why people were calling the red hatted Americans Vanilla Isis.

But they’d undoubtably find more friends among western (far) lefties.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

But they’d undoubtably find more friends among western (far) lefties.

This sounds like you conflating again. Not all Muslims are Islamic extremists, just as not all Christians are Christofascists.

 

[ElectricG]

This sounds like you conflating again. Not all Muslims are Islamic extremists, just as not all Christians are Christofascists.

I’m not conflicting those things. I’m saying where, within western society, extremists are more likely to find allies.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

I’m not conflicting those things. I’m saying where, within western society, extremists are more likely to find allies.

Do you think that's because right wing extremists are more racist than left wing extremists?

 

[ElectricG]

Do you think that's because right wing extremists are more racist than left wing extremists?

That would be part of the picture.

 

[mcnulty]

I acknowledge that staying on topic is a very big ask for some. Some might even insist an unbearable injustice. But the lack of mental capacity to focus merely supports the premise, which is not up for debate in this thread.
Theres a couple of other threads for that.

Lol, you’re the best argument against the thread title I could possibly imagine.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

That would be part of the picture.

Do you think racists are less intelligent than non racists?

 

[ElectricG]

Do you think racists are less intelligent than non racists?

On average, yes.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

Common associations within the left

Atheism
Hates people with money
Hates organic food and natural remedies
Hates free speech
Loves corrupt big pharma
Encourages child sex changes
Embraces victim mindset
Embraces cancel culture
Unforgiving

Why would a sane person gravitate towards this? lol

 

[Ghost Patrol]

On average, yes.

I agree.

Do you think it's weird that people are pushing back against the premise of this thread?

 

[mcnulty]

Common associations within the left

Atheism
Hates people with money
Hates organic food and natural remedies
Hates free speech
Loves corrupt big pharma
Encourages child sex changes
Embraces victim mindset
Embraces cancel culture
Unforgiving

Why would a sane person gravitate towards this? lol

Jeeeesus mate…wtf

 

[ElectricG]

I agree.

Do you think it's weird that people are pushing back against the premise of this thread?

No, I think they’re right to.

 

[mcnulty]

I agree.

Do you think it's weird that people are pushing back against the premise of this thread?

There’s more to stupidity than racism. Just because every racist might be stupid, doesn’t mean non racists can’t be stupid.

 

[Grin]

Common associations within the left

Unforgiving

That's a bit harsh.

 

[Ghost Patrol]

Common associations within the left

Atheism
Hates people with money
Hates organic food and natural remedies
Hates free speech
Loves corrupt big pharma
Encourages child sex changes
Embraces victim mindset
Embraces cancel culture
Unforgiving

Why would a sane person gravitate towards this? lol

Let me guess, you switched allegiance to Coles a few weeks ago, and have never looked back.

 

[Aussie in exile]

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 shake 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's because they don't have any intelligence that they gravitate to the right wing of politics.
Take for example Trumps base. A majority in my opinion are unintelligent red necks living on trailer parks, and Trump is using their lack of intelligence to his advantage.