Bright Minds and Dark Attitudes

[Gail]

I thought the title was talking about BRIGHT minds and dark attitudes. But the study was connecting the opposite kind of minds with the dark attitudes.

[Jeannieb43]

As I said a couple of pages ago, I think making it about 'conservatives' was an unfortunate direction to take.

Almost every discussion that devolves into 'conservatives versus liberals' loses all interest for me as it becomes a slanging match of stereotypes instead of a discussion of ideas.

What if we take what the paper actually says? That there is a correlation between lower intelligence and prejudice.

Remember, correlation is not causation: prejudice obviously doesn't *cause* lower intelligence, but the study does not prove that lower intelligence causes prejudice. More study is needed to unpick the causal relationships.

Is there any chance of rewinding and calmly discussing a quite interesting piece of research?

[BobRyan]

Interesting Study - Lower Cognitive Ability Predicts Greater...ergroup Contact

Translation - Conservatives tend to have lower IQ.

How fascinating.

Oh well - that is all it takes to convince me.

Next.

[LynnDel]

Bravus is right that the main focus of the article is on intelligence vs. prejudice. However, my brief scan led me to conclude that the article also equated prejudice with social conservatism. I didn't see prejudice defined in that long article, but it must be in there somewhere.

LD

[doug yowell]

Bravus is right that the main focus of the article is on intelligence vs. prejudice. However, my brief scan led me to conclude that the article also equated prejudice with social conservatism. I didn't see prejudice defined in that long article, but it must be in there somewhere.

LD

Bravus was also wrong in his insinuation that Tom tweaked the focus of the thread in deviation of the article itself. The subtitled(?)article starts by stating "Lower Cognitive Ability Predicts Greater Prejudice THROUGH RIGHT-WING IDEOLOGY AND LOW INTERGROUP CONTACT".It then goes on to use homophobic and racist ideology as it's target examples.This itself is an example of begging the right-wing ideology is homophobic and racist (dark attitude)question by presuppositionally declaring it so. Read it for yourself. Tom did no injustice to the thrust of the article.

[LynnDel]

Read it for yourself. Tom did no injustice to the thrust of the article.

Agreed.

LD

[Woody]

Quote:

Are we paranoid or what!! How everything gets so personal.

I am not sure why you are wondering? The thread started off - in a personal manner. That was the intent.

[Tom Wetmore]

It was not intended as personal. Nor was it intended as a political statement.

To be fair, the "translation" was spun provocatively consistent with popular media coverage of the study. It grabbed attention. Unfortunately some folk prejudged it without actually reading it for themselves. (Ironic isn't it that the key characteristic was prejudice as correlating with low IQ... I suspect those with low IQ don't choose to read much of anything... )

A perhaps better translation is that those with lower IQ tend toward prejudicial thinking and tend to be more conservative in their outlook and responses to changing circumstances and differences from their own affinity group.

It is not to say that all conservatives have a low IQ. William F. Buckley would stand singularly as amply refutation of that. Nor would the opposite corollary hold any more water. Certainly not all non-conservatives would be more intelligent.

If one clothes their thin skin adequately and just stops to think objectively a bit about the premise, there is a bit of rational logic to it. Understand the basic definitions of both prejudice and conservative and there is a certain commonality of being adverse to change, progress or venturing far from the familiar, and a tendency toward fear of the unknown and unfamiliar. A lack of intellectual aptitude would suggest a basic lack of capacity to overcome the obstacles or envision new and creative solutions to problems that could make change possible. A lack of intellectual curiosity and inquisitiveness is a serious barrier to learning and discovery and creativity all of which seem quite essential to progress and change and understanding those different from ourselves.

[Woody]

Tom - I like most of your posts. But this one has stooped to new lows of ignorance at best.

[Tom Wetmore]

Please explain.

[LifeHiscost]

Are we paranoid or what!! How everything gets so personal. I'm sure glad that Jesus looks past the most stupidest labels that people can place upon each other just so they can feel good about themselves. Reminds me of the story of the guy that came into the Temple and was so glad that he was not as bad as that other sinner.

God blesses!

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

Is there any chance of rewinding and calmly discussing a quite interesting piece of research?

That would be tantamount to agreeing amicably about the politics of which I already have my mind made up. Reminds me of the cliche, "My mind's made up. Please don't confuse me with the facts".

God blesses!

[LifeHiscost]

Bravus was also wrong in his insinuation that Tom tweaked the focus of the thread in deviation of the article itself. The subtitled(?)article starts by stating "Lower Cognitive Ability Predicts Greater Prejudice THROUGH RIGHT-WING IDEOLOGY AND LOW INTERGROUP CONTACT".It then goes on to use homophobic and racist ideology as it's target examples.This itself is an example of begging the right-wing ideology is homophobic and racist (dark attitude)question by presuppositionally declaring it so. Read it for yourself. Tom did no injustice to the thrust of the article.

As I said about the article. 'Huh'

God blesses!

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

I suspect those with low IQ don't choose to read much of anything...

OOOOpps!!! Busted!

God blesses!

[LifeHiscost]

Quote:

A lack of intellectual curiosity and inquisitiveness is a serious barrier to learning and discovery and creativity all of which seem quite essential to progress and change...

"For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked..."Genesis 3:5-7 NKJV

God blesses!

[phkrause]

It was not intended as personal. Nor was it intended as a political statement.

To be fair, the "translation" was spun provocatively consistent with popular media coverage of the study. It grabbed attention. Unfortunately some folk prejudged it without actually reading it for themselves. (Ironic isn't it that the key characteristic was prejudice as correlating with low IQ... I suspect those with low IQ don't choose to read much of anything...)

A perhaps better translation is that those with lower IQ tend toward prejudicial thinking and tend to be more conservative in their outlook and responses to changing circumstances and differences from their own affinity group.

It is not to say that all conservatives have a low IQ. William F. Buckley would stand singularly as amply refutation of that. Nor would the opposite corollary hold any more water. Certainly not all non-conservatives would be more intelligent.

If one clothes their thin skin adequately and just stops to think objectively a bit about the premise, there is a bit of rational logic to it. Understand the basic definitions of both prejudice and conservative and there is a certain commonality of being adverse to change, progress or venturing far from the familiar, and a tendency toward fear of the unknown and unfamiliar. A lack of intellectual aptitude would suggest a basic lack of capacity to overcome the obstacles or envision new and creative solutions to problems that could make change possible. A lack of intellectual curiosity and inquisitiveness is a serious barrier to learning and discovery and creativity all of which seem quite essential to progress and change and understanding those different from ourselves.

[CoAspen]

I knew this article would be 'fun'!!!

(....darn those mirrors....)

[cardw]

It was not intended as personal. Nor was it intended as a political statement.

To be fair, the "translation" was spun provocatively consistent with popular media coverage of the study. It grabbed attention. Unfortunately some folk prejudged it without actually reading it for themselves. (Ironic isn't it that the key characteristic was prejudice as correlating with low IQ... I suspect those with low IQ don't choose to read much of anything... )

Tom I'm afraid that limits to IQ may prevent those same people from understanding what you are saying here.

I don't think it is really low IQ so much as fear based thinking processes. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, which I think you are doing here as well.

I think people forget that institutions such as government and the church and our legal system were formed to serve people. Unfortunately they have become forces to maintain themselves and people who are afraid tend to put their faith into these intangible organizations.

It doesn't take much thinking to spout sound bytes. And I don't think it's lack of intelligence so much as laziness.

[phkrause]

I knew this article would be 'fun'!!!

(....darn those mirrors....)

[phkrause]

Originally Posted By: Tom Wetmore

It was not intended as personal. Nor was it intended as a political statement.

To be fair, the "translation" was spun provocatively consistent with popular media coverage of the study. It grabbed attention. Unfortunately some folk prejudged it without actually reading it for themselves. (Ironic isn't it that the key characteristic was prejudice as correlating with low IQ... I suspect those with low IQ don't choose to read much of anything... )

Tom I'm afraid that limits to IQ may prevent those same people from understanding what you are saying here.

I don't think it is really low IQ so much as fear based thinking processes. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, which I think you are doing here as well.

I think people forget that institutions such as government and the church and our legal system were formed to serve people. Unfortunately they have become forces to maintain themselves and people who are afraid tend to put their faith into these intangible organizations.

It doesn't take much thinking to spout sound bytes. And I don't think it's lack of intelligence so much as laziness.

Great points cardw

[Tom Wetmore]

Yep, I hear what you are saying...

To a degree the fear factor was accounted for in the study. And I have recognized and commented privately (now not so privately) that two other factors are not accounted for in this study intellectual laziness and intellectual dishonesty. Understandably these may be more difficult to empirically measure and correlate with ideological affinity. That could generate a whole new topic of discussion that would cut across sensitivities more so than this one I think.

[Woody]

what nonsense

[Tom Wetmore]

What nonsense?

[Woody]

every word

[doug yowell]

:

A perhaps better translation is that those with lower IQ tend toward prejudicial thinking and tend to be more conservative in their outlook and responses to changing circumstances and differences from their own affinity group.

Yet why the article's target group as "right-wing ideology"? Since the contemporary dominant mindset is overwhelmingly controlled by liberal ideology, why is dissent from that outlook because of lower eye cue? When popular teachings like global warming,evolution,racism,ect...are being publicly challenged why are liberals the first ones to fight against any change in their existing policies(conserve them)? Why is openended liberality the plumbline of IQ? Were those who forced Larry Summers to resign his Presidency of Harvard Univ. suspected to have lower IQ's? The study equates lower IQ with failure to change, but only in one direction,right?