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http://www.ucanews.com/news/research...tupidity/41572
Despite their important implications for interpersonal behaviors and relations, cognitive abilities have been largely ignored as explanations of prejudice.
We proposed and tested mediation models in which lower cognitive ability predicts greater prejudice, an effect mediated through the endorsement of right-wing ideologies (social conservatism, right-wing authoritarianism) and low levels of contact with out-groups.
In an analysis of two large-scale, nationally representative United Kingdom data sets (N = 15,874), we found that lower general intelligence (g) in childhood predicts greater racism in adulthood, and this effect was largely mediated via conservative ideology.
A secondary analysis of a U.S. data set confirmed a predictive effect of poor abstract-reasoning skills on antihomosexual prejudice, a relation partially mediated by both authoritarianism and low levels of intergroup contact. All analyses controlled for education and socioeconomic status.
Our results suggest that cognitive abilities play a critical, albeit underappreciated, role in prejudice. Consequently, we recommend a heightened focus on cognitive ability in research on prejudice and a better integration of cognitive ability into prejudice models.
Full Story: Bright Minds and Dark Attitudes
Source: Psychological Science
While I do agree, I think they're omitting a lot of factors. It's actually more complex than this. Racism, eugenics and racial ideals used to be norm among the higher echelons of society. Would one call the ancient Greek philosophers, European Imperialists, Nazis or ardent Zionists dim-witted?
IMO racism in modern times is more a product of inter-ethnic tension. Most inter-ethnic interaction in the western world takes place among the lesser educated and skilled. The lower skilled native westerners are competing for jobs and to a lesser extent sex mates as well; Now, apart from low-skilled immigrants, who is their competition?
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