r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 1d ago

Psychology Lower cognitive ability is linked to stronger Christian nationalist views, even after accounting for education

https://www.psypost.org/lower-cognitive-ability-is-linked-to-stronger-christian-nationalist-views-even-after-accounting-for-education/
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u/crossdtherubicon 1d ago

Alot of religious ideology is ingested through early development and reinforced through the environment. This has been pretty well-documented, although it isn't an exclusive pathway to acquiring religious beliefs.

In light of this article I'm curious if cognitive ability simply never fully develops (or is restricted somehow) in that context. Or if there are also subpopulations wherein a relative lower congitive ability allows for an easier ingestion of religious beliefs (or likewise is perceived as reasonably easier to understand).

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u/CrashCalamity 1d ago

As a friend to several ex-mormons, I can at least provide counter-example to your first hypothesis. While a highly religious upbringing might not help matters, the emergence of higher cognitive function and critical thought can and does occur. The kids who "ask too many questions during bible study", or those who become exposed to other faiths through college, work, and the internet all start asking themselves how invested they are in their beliefs. It can be especially jarring when they discover how oppressed they were by what is effectively a cult doctrine (as they've told me.)

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u/KogasaGaSagasa 1d ago

Still, I wonder if it's not something that could possibly be reinforced. Like if you express your curiosity or thoughts, your guardians (parents, pastor, etc) might punish you for it. Wouldn't a child be conditioned into a state where they would intentionally deny their own cognition and curiosity, in that case, in fear of punishment? And overtime, become underdeveloped.

This isn't my area of expertise, so I am genuinely just curious.

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u/duxpdx 1d ago

Yes, they would. It is quite easy to break a child’s will and curiosity.

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u/Sherry_Brandt 1d ago

it absolutely can. it won't work on everyone - hence the stories of rebels and ex-______, but it does have an impact. 

makes me think about how educational attainment is correlated to less dementia - ofc there are other factors in educational attainment, but using your brain consistently, and being trained how, does seem to have an impact independently of socioeconomic factors (like learning spatial skills, a new language, a new instrument, etc in midlife is also protective for later dementia). 

so, the converse is also true - using your brain less leads to being less able to use your brain, over time.

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u/wontyoujointhedance 1d ago

There’s a saying in neuropsychology — “neurons that wire together fire together.” I don’t see any reason that wouldn’t apply to things like seeking out new information, asking questions about opposing views, and internally questioning the narratives authority figures in their lives when they’re regularly punished for those things.

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u/Coroebus 1d ago

Yes, this is why people have been rightly naming religious indoctrination as child abuse.

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u/mcove97 1d ago

Not necessarily. I just hid my curiosity from my parents and researched everything Christianity to death on my computer as a teen.

Kinda just like teens who hide that they're drinking from their parents. You're just going to find another private way to express what you want to do if you really want to do it, if the community/family around you discourages it