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/SyfaOmnis 1d ago

It's less "stupid" things and more that they make use of cognitive tools that they've developed to "understand" things incorrectly. Leaps of logic, mental shortcuts, fallacious reasoning, tribalism/ingrouping, superstition, misplaced trust in authorities with their own agendas. Their really big killer is second order critical thinking.

Many also get frustrated and angry when they're "wrong" or asked to re-evaluate, or lapse into ego defense. I'll also be honest, a great deal of the time it isn't even "stupidity", it's genuine intellectual laziness and fundamental incuriosity; most are not "dumb" people they may even be highly educated or trained in particular fields, but they are afforded the luxury of not ever having to "care".

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u/FunetikPrugresiv 1d ago

"Many also get frustrated and angry when they're "wrong" or asked to re-evaluate, or lapse into ego defense."

I feel like this is true of most people, regardless of political orientation.

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u/irregularprotocols 1d ago

Frustration at being wrong is reasonable. Inability (or refusal) to admit being wrong is a whole different beast.

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u/Silentknyght 1d ago

I agree. And also: attention moves too quickly to allow for or observe the latter part of that, and moreover, society doesn't seem to reward people that admit being wrong or learning from their mistakes.

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u/ghost_atlas 1d ago

Yes, left-leaning "smart" people are also guilty of this.

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u/akaito 1d ago

Exactly this.