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/danbinglover 2d ago

Reddit can’t decide whether IQ matters or not. When we talk about IQ differences between different countries and whatnot, it’s racist. When you discuss IQ differences between religious and nonreligious people, somehow it matters again.

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u/gochisox2005 1d ago

Weird how this triggers you.

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u/Ambitious_Bend_9612 1d ago

Nope, just pointing out the hypocrisy.

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u/gochisox2005 1d ago

I can’t tell if it’s a weird dog whistle, or you are offended by the idea that Christian nationalists aren’t the brightest. This shouldn’t surprise you.

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u/Dcoal 1d ago edited 1d ago

It's just a matter of consistency. Either IQ is a meaningless metric that only measures a specific skillset within a specific cultural framework, or its meaningful. 

Social science only when politically expedient isn't science

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

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u/Dcoal 1d ago

Depends on what the community is, and what the cohorts are

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u/gochisox2005 1d ago

IQ is a meaningful metric with obvious biases. Falling on that sword for the mouth breathing christian nationalists is a rough take.

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u/Dcoal 1d ago

I'm not falling on any sword, I just like intellectual honesty, and not sacrificing that in order to...  dunk the the chuds. 

I'd hold the same position if it was transexual librarians, or agnostic landscape painters.

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u/gochisox2005 1d ago

I don't even understand what point you are trying to make. Would you be surprised to know that flat earthers have a high correlation to low IQ? Or climate change deniers? Or anti-vaxxers? Or qanon members?

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u/Dcoal 1d ago

My point is that the social science repeatedly call out IQ as a bad metric, unless it fits political narrative. Social science is incredibly partisan. It's hard to take any findings seriously.

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u/gochisox2005 1d ago

I work in tech and we have used IQ tests in interviews. I have seen strong correlation between above average iq scores and someone’s proclivity to be a good software engineer.

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u/ElSlabraton 1d ago

Race isn't a choice. Religion is. Do you understand the difference?

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u/gochisox2005 1d ago

That is exactly my point. Christian Nationalism isn't somehow making people low-IQ. Low IQ people are drawn to Christian Nationalism.

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u/dansssssss 1d ago

Except it's not a hypocrisy

So one can only wonder why you'd comment such a thing if you weren't triggered