SCIENTISTS: BIGOTS ARE DUMB

A new study has confirmed what many of us already suspected; people who have prejudiced views are more likely to be of low intelligence.

The study, published in Psychological Science, was conducted by lead researcher Gordon Hodson, a psychologist at Brock University in Ontario.

Titled Bright Minds and Dark Attitudes, Lower Cognitive Ability Predicts Greater Prejudice, it found that children with lower IQ’s are more likely to have greater prejudice and social conservatism and hold right-right wing ideologies as adults.

These prejudices can include racism and homophobia, which Hodson found to be linked.

“Prejudice is extremely complex and multifaceted, making it critical that any factors contributing to bias are uncovered and understood,” Hodson told LiveScience.

He explained that people of low intelligence may gravitate toward simpler socially conservative ideologies because they may struggle to grasp the complexity of the world.

“Socially conservative ideologies tend to offer structure and order. Unfortunately, many of these features can also contribute to prejudice,” Hodson said.

He added, however, that the study did not mean that all liberals are brilliant and all conservatives are stupid, but it rather suggests average trends within large groups.