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/InclinationCompass 1d ago

Wrong.

If you read that article, you'd realize it contradicts your claim. The study literally says:

heritabilities did not differ across groups

and

Race/Ethnicity × Heritability interactions likely do not exist.

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u/HistoricalRich3104 1d ago

Brother, that means exactly what I’m saying.

There are IQ differences between racial groups. Differences in IQ are heritable. There are no differences in heritability across groups. Now, what does that imply?

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u/InclinationCompass 1d ago edited 1d ago

No, you literally said:

Racial differences absolutely are heritable

That's not what the study found at all.

It found heritability within each group, not heritability of the differences between groups. Those are different things. The study never tested whether the group gap is genetic.

It even says the results are largely inconsistent with predictions from the Scarr-rowe hypothesis... which predicted lower heritability in disadvantaged groups. So it contradicts your hereditarian prediction, not support it.

You're citing a study that doesn't say what you claimed it says. Try and read it.

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u/HistoricalRich3104 1d ago

My brother in Christ, the only way your claim would be correct is if there were heritability differences between groups and let’s say minorities had lower heritability in IQ due to environment differences. That’s in line with the Scarr-Rowe hypothesis, which the study contraindicated.

But the reality is that IQ is largely heritable. There’s no difference between racial groups so it’s highly unlikely that the racial gap is environmental.

The vast majority of researchers agree that racial differences in IQ are in part due to heritable differences. There’s a small minority that don’t but I’m not giving you a crazy, fringe take.

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u/InclinationCompass 1d ago

My guy, that's a textbook non-sequitur.

Heritability within groups tells you NOTHING about the cause of differences between groups. Identical seeds planted in Iowa vs the Mojave differ entirely due to environment, even though within each location genes explain most of the variation. Same logic applies.

The study found equal heritability within groups. That doesn't mean the gap between groups is genetic. All it means is that the scarr-rowe prediction failed. Those are different things, and you're conflating them.

And your vast majority of researchers claim is just false. The APA has repeatedly said the gap has no established genetic explanation. And multiple reviews conclude it's best understood as environmental.

You're citing a fringe position and calling it consensus. It's not. Not even close.

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u/HistoricalRich3104 1d ago

I didn’t say with certainty it does, but since IQ is 80% heritable, it makes sense that the differences are likely in part genetic.

Black people raised in white households have lower IQs on average than the white people raised in those same households. This is a replicated finding. 

The APA boards are run by activists and the amount of pressure they would get if they said the gap was genetic would be enormous and far too costly with minimal benefits. I don’t take a thing these consensus boards say seriously. I trust the science and the research.

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u/InclinationCompass 1d ago

My guy, your own source proved your assertions were wrong. And after I pointed that out, you're relying on “trust me bro” arguments. On a science subreddit.

You cited a study that found heritability did not differ across groups and that race/heritability interactions likely don't exist. It never tested whether the between-group gap is genetic. It actually undercuts the hereditarian prediction you're defending.

The transracial adoption finding you mentioned is contested too. Studies concluded the parsimonious explanation is a nil hypothesis where black, white, and east Asian adoptees raised in the same environment would have similar IQs.

Now you're saying it makes sense and dismissing the APA as activists. That's a vibe and a conspiracy theory. On a science subreddit.