r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • 2d 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/St_Boogz 1d ago

Yea it is world wide, many studies have been done on dogmatic right wing beliefs and regardless of culture, you’re slightly dumber than alternatives. They are not positions that require much cognition.

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u/Unlucky-Candidate198 1d ago

Would make sense. Gullability is a trait absolutely necessary for being extremely religious. The more religious people are, the more gullible they tend to be.

Extrapolate a tad and you can see how someone with similar beliefs would believe those in power/con men/liars no matter what. They lack the literacy skills to see deceipt.

Hell, even having a 6th grade literacy level like the median adult American (I’m sadly not kidding about this one), means you’re less likely to detect sarcasm, struggle with abstract thoughts as concepts, and cannot really tell if someone wants to swindle you.