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.

 

[bluespooner]

I've always thought less intelligent people gravitate to supporting Richmond. Sounds like a good thread title anyway.

 

[Blue1980]

I've always thought less intelligent people gravitate to supporting Richmond. Sounds like a good thread title anyway.

Is there a Venn diagram on Richmond supporters and weirdo right winger conspiracy theorists?

Among the BF community I think the correlation would be high between the ones who think the umpiring is rigged against Richmond and those who believe on right wing conspiracies.

 

[Grin]

I've always thought less intelligent people gravitate to supporting Richmond. Sounds like a good thread title anyway.

Is there a Venn diagram on Richmond supporters and weirdo right winger conspiracy theorists?

Among the BF community I think the correlation would be high between the ones who think the umpiring is rigged against Richmond and those who believe on right wing conspiracies.

Whilst I'm sure you perceive your posts to be a clever dig at the OP, who's opening argument is based on an assumption, that whilst overwhelmingly supported by the evidence, you find personally highly offensive, your analogy doesn't quite work. The conspiracy theory to which you refer is backed by many years of hard statistics, however you have provided not a shred of evidence to support your imagined 'correlation'.
Not that I'd expect poor, uneducated, intellectually challenged victims of right wing grifts to perceive facts and evidence as anything other than the mortal enemy

 

[Ghost Patrol]

Is there a Venn diagram on Richmond supporters and weirdo right winger conspiracy theorists?

There sure is.


EasternTiger

 

[Chief]

Ghost PaTROLL !!!

 

[Spearman]

Hard to figure out where to put this...
Anyway another example for our right-wing leaning brothers and sisters who react to every report they see on FB, X, Fox etal. and then go online to regurgitate the outrage they were just induced to soak in.

Fox & Friends Fall for Conservative Rage Bait About New Jersey Teachers Not Needing to Be Able to Read​

Viewers of Fox & Friends will be forgiven if they now believe that the state of New Jersey no longer requires its school teachers to be able to read to get a job because that’s precisely how a new state law, signed by Governor Phil Murphy, was presented as news Monday morning.

The law, designed to remove redundant and unnecessary testing procedures, was entirely misrepresented by news presenter Carly Shimkus and the morning show co-hosts.

The bill intends to streamline the hiring process and fill open teaching spots by easing restrictions and losing unnecessary testing steps. However, the bill first gained attention in conservative outrage circles, which seemed to have started with the social media account Amuse, which was amplified by Charlie Kirk and Elon Musk and then was misleadingly covered by Fox News Digital on Sunday.

Kirk quoted the following image: “Imagine being illiterate and thinking to yourself, “You know what, I think I’ll go into teaching.”
The state’s role when it comes to deranged people like this is to protect children from them, not enable their idiocy by helping spread it to the next generation.”

Even the Musky One weighed in on it.
Basically teacher applicants already have degrees and demonstratively capable reading and writing skills. There are redundant tests for basic reading, writing and math that this bill will get rid of. Basically getting rid of a layer of bureaucratic paperwork.

So Fox viewer will of course have the BS that has been brainwashed into their skulls reinforced by this blatant false reporting. Hope those who consume from these kinds of sources think over what they are so outraged about and wonder if they might want a second opinion from outside their algorithm supplied suggestion list.

 

[Aussie in exile]

Hard to figure out where to put this...
Anyway another example for our right-wing leaning brothers and sisters who react to every report they see on FB, X, Fox etal. and then go online to regurgitate the outrage they were just induced to soak in.

Fox & Friends Fall for Conservative Rage Bait About New Jersey Teachers Not Needing to Be Able to Read​

Even the Musky One weighed in on it.
Basically teacher applicants already have degrees and demonstratively capable reading and writing skills. There are redundant tests for basic reading, writing and math that this bill will get rid of. Basically getting rid of a layer of bureaucratic paperwork.

So Fox viewer will of course have the BS that has been brainwashed into their skulls reinforced by this blatant false reporting. Hope those who consume from these kinds of sources think over what they are so outraged about and wonder if they might want a second opinion from outside their algorithm supplied suggestion list.

All the people on Fox and friends are as dumb as dog #### in my opinion.

 

[Spearman]

All the people on Fox and friends are as dumb as dog #### in my opinion.

I always found funny the fact that Kilmeade was an announcer at UFC 1.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Its simple

Left wing people gravitate towards more set definitions, set narratives and have more narrow minded views which correlate with a higher evidence base because they believe that the more people they find that agree with them. the more chance of being correct they are

Right wing ideologies gravitate towards more of a concept of changing definitions, movable narratives and are more open minded into not believing things just because the written literature is more pronounced in that area.

In 2025 you probably find those who are inventive are gravitating towards the right andf those who want fixed outcomes are on the left. Its risk taking vs risk avoiding.

Both sides need to exist to counter each other really. I suppose that is whats been lost in the last 20 years. The logic that its either one or the other as opposed to a arm of government which finds a way to combine both thought processes.... which is possible because its occured in the past

 

[the_interloper]

I always found funny the fact that Kilmeade was an announcer at UFC 1.

Ha ha I've seen UFC 1 a lot of times, just googled what he looks like now, he's had some work done I reckon, looks like a different bloke!

 

[liz]

Its simple

Left wing people gravitate towards more set definitions, set narratives and have more narrow minded views which correlate with a higher evidence base because they believe that the more people they find that agree with them. the more chance of being correct they are

Right wing ideologies gravitate towards more of a concept of changing definitions, movable narratives and are more open minded into not believing things just because the written literature is more pronounced in that area.

In 2025 you probably find those who are inventive are gravitating towards the right andf those who want fixed outcomes are on the left. Its risk taking vs risk avoiding.

Both sides need to exist to counter each other really. I suppose that is whats been lost in the last 20 years. The logic that its either one or the other as opposed to an arm of government which finds a way to combine both thought processes.... which is possible because its occured in the past

Smart people understand where it’s valuable to be creative and where it’s not. It rarely pays to be creative with facts. And yes, some facts do really exist.

Better educated people (I prefer that concept to “smart”) have been taught how to evaluate evidence - take evidence from different sources, assess the credibility of where it’s come from, navigate and assess competing and contrasting evidence, and always leave room for further evidence to emerge (ie retain doubt and cope with nuance).

 

[Spearman]

Smart people understand where it’s valuable to be creative and where it’s not. It rarely pays to be creative with facts. And yes, some facts do really exist.

Better educated people (I prefer that concept to “smart”) have been taught how to evaluate evidence - take evidence from different sources, assess the credibility of where it’s come from, navigate and assess competing and contrasting evidence, and always leave room for further evidence to emerge (ie retain doubt and cope with nuance).

I found that experience helped. Getting stuff wrong tended to make me more careful about what I was doing. I actually am constantly stressing proofreading and double-checking to my grade school students. lol It's a hard sell sometimes. So many just don't care if they're work is correct or not, just get it done and turn it in. Wish I could use the traditional techniques of Zen meditation instructors.

 

[peetoo]

Its simple

Left wing people gravitate towards more set definitions, set narratives and have more narrow minded views which correlate with a higher evidence base because they believe that the more people they find that agree with them. the more chance of being correct they are

Right wing ideologies gravitate towards more of a concept of changing definitions, movable narratives and are more open minded into not believing things just because the written literature is more pronounced in that area.

In 2025 you probably find those who are inventive are gravitating towards the right andf those who want fixed outcomes are on the left. Its risk taking vs risk avoiding.

Both sides need to exist to counter each other really. I suppose that is whats been lost in the last 20 years. The logic that its either one or the other as opposed to a arm of government which finds a way to combine both thought processes.... which is possible because its occured in the past

Your summations are almost exactly opposite to the original meanings of left and right

But yes, lefties are conservatives right now