Cognitive ability varies, but prejudice is universal

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by Plazma Inferno!, Aug 1, 2016.

  1. Plazma Inferno! Ding Ding Ding Ding Administrator

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    When it comes to prejudice, it does not matter if you are smart or not, or conservative or liberal, each group has their own specific biases. In a recent study, psychologists show that low cognitive ability (i.e., intelligence, verbal ability) was not a consistent predictor of prejudice. Cognitive ability, whether high or low, only predicts prejudice towards specific groups.
    Researchers analyzed data from 5914 people in the United States that includes a measure of verbal ability and prejudice towards 24 different groups.
    Analyzing the results, the researchers found that people with both relatively higher and lower levels of cognitive ability show approximately equal levels of intergroup bias, but towards different sets of groups. People with low cognitive ability tended to express prejudice towards groups perceived as liberal and unconventional (e.g., atheists, gays and lesbians), as well as groups of people perceived as having low choice over group membership (e.g., ethnic minorities). People with high cognitive ability showed the reverse pattern. They tended to express prejudice towards groups perceived as conservative and conventional (e.g., Christians, the military, big business).

    http://www.spsp.org/press-release/cognitive-ability
     
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  3. iceaura Valued Senior Member

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    They found that Christians, people in big business, and the military, were of low cognitive ability?
    Or was it that they were biased against themselves?
     
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  5. mtf Banned Banned

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    We'd need at least the methodology section of this study.
     
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