Genetic variation explained the link between cognitive ability and political views
In a recent study published in the journal Intelligence, scientists found that both IQ scores and genetic markers associated with intelligence , can predict political inclinations towards liberalism. This means that a person's political beliefs can be not only the result of environment or upbringing, but also depend on genetic variations that affect intelligence.
Past research has linked intelligence to socially liberal beliefs and even, to a lesser extent, fiscal conservatism. However, the underlying causes of these associations remained unclear, obscured by potentially confounding factors such as socioeconomic status, education, and broad environmental influences. This ambiguity has necessitated a more detailed investigation.
“Over the past seventy years, psychologists have reported on the correlation between intelligence and beliefs in more than a hundred publications,” explained study author Tobias Edwards. He added that despite great interest in the topic, scientists had little knowledge about why this connection exists, let alone whether it might be cause-and-effect.
“As the old cliché goes, correlation is not necessarily causation. I’m curious to get to the bottom of why this mysterious correlation exists,” the scientist explained.
For their study, the researchers used data from the Sibling Interaction and Behavior Project (SIBS), which previously collected extensive information on adoptive and biological families. They were recruited between 1998 and 2003 using state birth records and adoption agency data. This data set allowed the researchers to compare siblings within the same family, significantly reducing the influence of shared environmental factors and focusing on genetic factors.
The study included 82 pairs of biological siblings and 96 pairs of adoptive siblings and sisters and another 35 couples consisting of one adopted and one biological relative.
Intelligence assessment in this sample was carried out in two ways, including both traditional IQ tests and genetic analysis. Participants aged 16 years and older were assessed using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale-Revised for Adults (WAIS–R), while participants aged 15 years and younger were assessed using the WISC-R for Children. These estimates are among the most widely recognized and respected measures of intelligence performance.
In addition to traditional IQ tests, the researchers examined polygenic measures of cognitive ability and educational attainment. The first data is a cumulative measure of genetic predisposition to certain personality traits. They are calculated by summing the effects of multiple genetic variants across the genome.
Researchers have found that both IQ and polygenic scores are significant predictors of political orientation. This pattern persisted even when various socio-economic factors were taken into account.
Within families, siblings with higher IQs or more favorable polygenic intelligence scores were more likely to have liberal political beliefs compared to their siblings. This was true for both biological and adoptive families.
This result highlights the potential genetic underpinnings of political ideology, suggesting that differences in genetic factors associated with intelligence may partly explain why siblings Growing up in the same environment may develop different political views.
“We found that both IQ and genetic measures of intelligence, known as polygenic scores, can help predict which of two siblings tends to be liberal,” Edwards told PsyPost. “This means that intelligence is linked to political opinions not just because of environment or upbringing, but rather because genetic variations in intelligence may play a role in influencing our political differences.” Why is this so? I don't know.”
The researchers assessed six different dimensions related to political ideology: authoritarianism, egalitarianism, social liberalism, fiscal conservatism, and religiosity. IQ and polygenic scores significantly predicted all six of these political dimensions.
“We find that intelligence data has a negative impact on fiscal conservatism, whereas previous studies have generally found the opposite result,” Edwards said. “Our sample consisted of Americans who were surveyed about their political views around 2017, suggesting that the relationship between intelligence data and political beliefs may have changed over time.”
Many smart people, according to the researcher believed in ideas that were completely stupid. Because of this, George Orwell doubted that the intelligence of guerrillas could in any way determine the quality of their beliefs, stating that “one must be one of the intelligentsia to believe such things: no ordinary man could be such a fool.” /p>
However, researchers argue that intelligence is only one of many factors influencing political beliefs, and caution against drawing conclusions about the merits of political ideologies based on the intelligence of their adherents.
“Based on our research, we cannot say that the beliefs of people with high IQs tell us what is right to believe, but rather only what smart people choose to believe,” concluded Tobias Edwards.
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