A recent study has revealed that men with high intellectual capabilities are less inclined to adopt conservative political positions compared to men with average intelligence, while no similar differences were observed among the women participating in the study.
Psychologist Maximilian Krull from Saarland University in Germany reported that the findings demonstrated a clear variation in political orientations among men based on their intelligence level, while women's attitudes appeared more aligned regardless of their cognitive abilities.
Details of the Study
The study was also co-authored by Professors Jörn Sparfeldt from Saarland University and Detlef Rost from Philipps University in Marburg, with results recently published in the scientific journal "Intelligence." The research relied on data from the "Marburg Project for the Gifted," conducted during the 1987-1988 academic year, where over seven thousand elementary school children were assessed using standardized intelligence tests.
Approximately 2% of these children (around 150 children) were classified as having high abilities, and a significant portion of them (107 individuals) was followed over decades in a longitudinal study, alongside a comparison group of individuals with average intelligence.
Participants underwent repeated surveys on various topics, with questions regarding their political opinions posed more than 35 years after the study began. The latest survey included 87 individuals with high intelligence and 71 with average intelligence, with a response rate of about 75%.
Background & Context
Participants identified their political positions on a scale ranging from left to right, and they filled out a detailed questionnaire regarding their political orientations, which encompassed four areas including socialism and liberalism. The results indicated that men with average intelligence tend to support values associated with tradition and a strict social order, while their high-intelligence counterparts were less inclined to adopt these traditional conservative positions.
Krull believes that these differences may reflect a divergence in how political and social issues are processed, while Sparfeldt emphasized the importance of understanding the orientations of this group, especially since individuals with high abilities often occupy influential positions in society.
Impact & Consequences
Despite these differences, the study concluded that high intelligence does not necessarily lead to the adoption of extreme political positions; rather, adults with high abilities tend to exhibit a degree of political diversity and moderation similar to the rest of the population. Researchers highlighted the need for further studies to understand whether these tendencies, particularly among men with average intelligence, are actually reflected in political behavior, such as voting and party engagement.
These findings underscore the importance of understanding the relationship between intelligence and political attitudes, which may help explain some prevailing political trends in various societies.
Regional Significance
This study holds particular significance in the Arab context, where political attitudes vary widely among individuals. The results may contribute to understanding how psychological and cognitive factors influence political orientations in Arab societies, aiding in the development of effective political communication strategies.
In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of researching the relationship between intelligence and political attitudes, opening the door for further studies that could contribute to a deeper understanding of political orientations worldwide.