Are Liberals REALLY More Intelligent Than Conservatives?

This thread is in response to the thread by AlexIR. I’d like dig a little deeper into this theory that liberals are smarter than conservatives (for the record - I consider a liberal to be left of a moderate democrat and I consider a conservative to be right of a moderate republican). Let me start by attempting to define intelligence and how it’s measured.

Individuals differ from one another in their ability to understand complex ideas, to adapt effectively to the environment, to learn from experience, to engage in various forms of reasoning, to overcome obstacles by taking thought. Although these individual differences can be substantial, they are never entirely consistent: a given person's intellectual performance will vary on different occasions, in different domains, as judged by different criteria. Concepts of "intelligence" are attempts to clarify and organize this complex set of phenomena.

I define intelligence as a measurement of an individual’s mental abilities and I consider this measurement extremely subjective, hence the reason for so many different measurements of intelligence. Tests always show that all individuals do better in certain aspects than others. To establish an “IQ” or some measure of intelligence, the results of various tests are combined and analyzed.

One person may do relatively better on verbal than on spatial items, for example, while another may show the opposite pattern. Nevertheless, subtests measuring different abilities tend to be positively correlated: people who score high on one such subtest are likely to be above average on others as well. These complex patterns of correlation can be clarified by factor analysis, but the results of such analyses are often controversial themselves.

In the end, what we have is 95% of the population falling within two standard deviations of the mean, so unless you are a savant or suffering from a learning disability, your level of intelligence isn’t strikingly different than your neighbor.

By convention, overall intelligence test scores are usuallv converted to a scale in which the mean is 100 and the standard deviation is 15. (The standard deviation is a measure of the variability of the distribution of scores.) Approximately 95% of the population has scores within two standard deviations of the mean, i.e. between 70 and 130. For historical reasons, the term "IQ" is often used to describe scores on tests of intelligence.

However, there may be some truth to the claim that liberals tend to have a slightly higher IQ than conservatives.

Consider this - People with higher test scores tend to get more schooling because they are more likely to go to college than students with lower test scores.

Attendance at school is both a dependent and an independent variable in relation to intelligence. On the one hand, children with higher test scores are less likely to drop out, more likely to be promoted from grade to grade and then to attend college. Thus the number of years of education that adults complete is roughly predictable from their childhood scores on intelligence tests. On the other hand schooling itself changes mental abilities, including those abilities measured on psychometric tests. This is obvious for tests like the SAT that are explicitly designed to assess school learning, but it is almost equally true of intelligence tests themselves.

link

This asserts that, though people of slightly higher intelligence are more prone to attend college in the first place, college is also a factor in raising one’s overall intelligence. An individual’s intelligence is influenced throughout that person’s life by many factors (parenting, education level of the parents, quality of education they receive, quality of the teachers they have, amount of positive influence and attention they receive, social circumstances, etc) so it’s safe to say that college also has a positive effect on intelligence.

Now let’s take this a step further…



Since the federal government has taken over the educational system in America, schools here have become indoctrination centers and one of the greatest social experiments in history.

Check out this picture from a public school text book. Schools are teaching children from a young age that the constitution says that the all-mighty government should provide for their needs:

The Promise Of America Is. . . Socialism? That’s exactly what is being taught in many American public schools.

Under the guise of teaching children to read, the seeds of Socialism are being planted within the minds of young children. Do you believe that the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States mandates the following?

“The People’s basic needs must be met in a country. Needs for housing, education, transportation, and health care overseen by our government system.”

What the constitution actually says is:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

So what happens next? When these thoroughly indoctrinated children grow up and attend college they are already primed and ready for the next layer of mind control…and not just in top level private universities but also public universities that receive tax dollars:

Nearly three-quarters of faculty members at U.S. colleges and universities describe themselves as liberals, and at elite schools, the proportion is 87 percent, a survey has found.

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Once these preconditioned students arrive they are bombarded by the liberals that dominate academia and push radical liberal agendas. Even the students who would otherwise consider themselves conservative are subjected to this attempted manipulation.

Already inclined toward liberalism, college freshmen are leaning even farther left on key political issues, a nationwide survey of first-year students has found.

An all-time high of 71.3 percent of the new students support same-sex marriage, 6.4 percentage points higher than in 2009, according to the annual survey of more than 200,000 freshmen conducted by UCLA's Higher Education Research Institute.

Nearly 43 percent of conservative freshmen said gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry.

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reply to post by seabag


(Part 2…continued)

SOOOOO…….back to the original question; Are liberals more intelligent than conservatives?

Based on the evidence I’ve presented, it would appear that liberals do have a slightly higher IQ, on average, than conservatives; people who attend college in the first place typically have a slightly higher IQ than those who don’t attend; people who graduate college typically have a higher IQ than people who don’t graduate college; people who attend college are subjected to several more years of liberal political indoctrination than people who don’t attend college.

However, if intelligence is truly a measure of an individual’s “ability to understand complex ideas, to adapt effectively to the environment, to learn from experience, to engage in various forms of reasoning, to overcome obstacles by taking thought then the answer is a resounding NO…It is conservatives who are more intelligent.

It is conservatives who have to recognize, adapt to and effectively navigate a hostile environment of subversive indoctrination, overcome obstacles posed by 12-16 years of radical teaching, and use critical thinking to see through the onslaught of extreme ideological dogma and rhetoric being jammed down their throats.

Anyone can be a brainwashed, intellectually dishonest ideologue like a typical liberal. Most liberals are merely pseudo-intellectuals who fancy themselves intelligent but are simply regurgitating the feel-good socialist garbage they’ve been force–fed for years. I would argue that a true sign of intelligence is the ability of conservatives to navigate this maze of evil and deceit and come out stronger and smarter on the other side.

What say you?

Neither of them are. If they are ignorant to label themselves either they lack the understanding to realize it doesn't matter whether you're a jackass or the pink elephant in the room. It's a big game of chess and you the citizens, aren't the ones playing.

But I commend your detailed post which i did not read, because i've come to understand over the years the political system is apart of the same damned plan with different sides to divide and manipulate people who still have faith in the government.

reply to post by seabag

Interesting post, its a shame you had to spoil it at the end with opinionated, petty name calling.in support of your chosen ideology.
In my opinion the most intelligent people are neither liberal or conservative - they do not need a reference to a political ideology in order to have one. In support of this note that you have those that support Ron Paul and yet are at least slightly sympathetic to the Occupy ideals. There are those that are against universal coverage of the Obamacare type, but also support the right to choose. People are complex and we should not fall into the trap of lining up behind the two main political parties and their ideologies just because they want us to.

The ones that are taking the United out of the United States are those that are partisan and constantly try to manipulate people into being cheerleaders for one of the two groups.

Originally posted by freethinker123
Interesting post, its a shame you had to spoil it at the end with opinionated, petty name calling.in support of your chosen ideology.
In my opinion the most intelligent people are neither liberal or conservative - they do not need a reference to a political ideology in order to have one. In support of this note that you have those that support Ron Paul and yet are at least slightly sympathetic to the Occupy ideals. There are those that are against universal coverage of the Obamacare type, but also support the right to choose. People are complex and we should not fall into the trap of lining up behind the two main political parties and their ideologies just because they want us to.

The ones that are taking the United out of the United States are those that are partisan and constantly try to manipulate people into being cheerleaders for one of the two groups.

I didn't hear any of this critizism on AlexIR's thread!

All I saw over there were liberal's (and so-called independents) patting each other on the back and throwing high-fives.

Maybe you should share some love on his thread, sir.

Selective moral outrage?

Are liberals REALLYmore intelligent than conservatives?

...

Nice write up in your OP. But I believe that the left/right paradigm is a 20th century relic of western political thought. Intelligence is not a political thing that can be "conservative" or "liberal". The mass media complex really adores the left/right paradigm because they can get a bunch of fancy suits on tv spouting off their left/right agendas.

So, respectfully have to disagree with the premise. Intelligence does not factor in political views. A Nazi can be highly intelligent while he's shooting at defenseless women and children. American pilots can be intelligent while carpet bombing Viet Nam. And some very intelligent people believed that Iraq had WMD because of the Nigerian Yellow Cakes.

The intelligent man looks at all sides and trusts his ability to discern the truth from that. Political ideology, liberal or conservative crushes intelligence, violates critical thinking and creates an un-intelligent man.

IT WAS VERY HARD in college
being a HARD RIGHT WINGER!!

I would tell the professor in front
of 80 people that he was spewing
left wing socialist BILE BY telling
us WE HAD TO WATCH BILL MAHER!!
We had to wrIte a 5 page essay on at least
2 different episodes!!!

I was appalled at this!

I did the report to the T!
Not like the DR. would of wanted
I GOT A D!
It was a A+ report.

This thread has brought light ON the issue
which is actually true.
The higher the IQ the more moral deviant,
left hating right, and lack of common sense.

It is a bad pay off
I have learnt first hand
and I AM TIRED
OF THESE PROFESSORS PUSHING
THIS CRAP DOWN OUR THROATS.

It is sick and setting us up for there
fantasy UTOPIA WHICH WILL NEVER HAPPEN
EXCELLENT THREAD S AND F

I really hate bill maher it is like
making an atheist go to church
AND IS NOT RIGHT!!
YOU CAN NOT MAKE AN ATHEIST GO TO CHURCH
Why should they be able to make me watch BILL MAHER????????
It is such a double standard it makes me sick!

Originally posted by freethinker123
Interesting post, its a shame you had to spoil it at the end with opinionated, petty name calling.in support of your chosen ideology.
In my opinion the most intelligent people are neither liberal or conservative - they do not need a reference to a political ideology in order to have one. In support of this note that you have those that support Ron Paul and yet are at least slightly sympathetic to the Occupy ideals. There are those that are against universal coverage of the Obamacare type, but also support the right to choose. People are complex and we should not fall into the trap of lining up behind the two main political parties and their ideologies just because they want us to.

The ones that are taking the United out of the United States are those that are partisan and constantly try to manipulate people into being cheerleaders for one of the two groups.

Hes due his Opinion,as you stated your "petty" retort.

All is good in ATS.

I think that their are those set in their ways.The Liberal agenda is alive and well,in America. With the polarization of America because of Obama,Its no surprise these type of posts,are brought up.If Liberals were Intelligent,they would at least admit that's what hes done MHO

Most CONservatives proudly display that they still believe in fairy tales involving TALKING SNAKES...

...and believe in imaginary friends claiming that "god" talks to them.

Many still feel bitter that women and minorities are now allowed to vote.

Many think that everyone in the world who isnt like them should be blown up.

Many of them do not care for the environment, workers rights, fair wages and health coverage.

And, of course... EDUCATION doesn't rank too high on their list of priorities. Go figure!

Whats that tell ya about them?

Thats just the tip of the iceberg. They havent evolved much since the stone-age.

reply to post by jvm222

Neither of them are. If they are ignorant to label themselves either they lack the understanding to realize it doesn't matter whether you're a jackass or the pink elephant in the room. It's a big game of chess and you the citizens, aren't the ones playing.

So the majority of the world’s population is unintelligent because they subscribe to one ideology or the other? Interesting??

But I commend your detailed post which i did not read, because i've come to understand over the years the political system is apart of the same damned plan with different sides to divide and manipulate people who still have faith in the government.

Thanks…I guess.

I understand where you’re coming from, but this (right/left) is a real phenomenon and is studied in depth by men and women much smarter than you or me. The closer you get to the center of the left/right paradigm the more they look alike. I was mainly addressing the people at the ends of the ideological spectrum.

If you get time, please read my entire post and share your thoughts…

My impression is that liberals are stronger in thinking and conservatives stronger in doing.

Originally posted by SayonaraJupiter
Nice write up in your OP. But I believe that the left/right paradigm is a 20th century relic of western political thought. Intelligence is not a political thing that can be "conservative" or "liberal". The mass media complex really adores the left/right paradigm because they can get a bunch of fancy suits on tv spouting off their left/right agendas.

So, respectfully have to disagree with the premise. Intelligence does not factor in political views. A Nazi can be highly intelligent while he's shooting at defenseless women and children. American pilots can be intelligent while carpet bombing Viet Nam. And some very intelligent people believed that Iraq had WMD because of the Nigerian Yellow Cakes.

The intelligent man looks at all sides and trusts his ability to discern the truth from that. Political ideology, liberal or conservative crushes intelligence, violates critical thinking and creates an un-intelligent man.

Really??

Maybe you should tell that to the well-educated researchers who conducted the study (likely on the taxpayers dime)

I’m sure they’d be interested to know that this subject is irrelevant.

Study

Originally posted by Skyfloating
My impression is that liberals are stronger in thinking and conservatives stronger in doing.

That is the best way of describing it.

I couldn't have said it better,myself !

Originally posted by Skyfloating
My impression is that liberals are stronger in thinking and conservatives stronger in doing.

Possibly!

Then again, when you have big conservative brains like Reagan, Newt et al that kind of takes that theory down a notch.

The conclusion of the OP is my opinion. Everyone is entitled to formulate his/her own…right?

reply to post by sonnny1

I think that their are those set in their ways.The Liberal agenda is alive and well,in America. With the polarization of America because of Obama,Its no surprise these type of posts,are brought up.

It has happened since Obama, I thought we were past this, the race pushers know what they are doing.

They don't even believe what they are saying.

Originally posted by Skyfloating
My impression is that liberals are stronger in thinking and conservatives stronger in doing.

Give me an example.

Originally posted by Stormdancer777
reply to post by sonnny1

 

I think that their are those set in their ways.The Liberal agenda is alive and well,in America. With the polarization of America because of Obama,Its no surprise these type of posts,are brought up.

It has happened since Obama, I thought we were past this, the race pushers know what they are doing.

They don't even believe what they are saying.

edit on 052929p://bSaturday2012 by Stormdancer777 because: (no reason given)

Hmm,being of mixed decent,like Obama,I trust hes over any "Race" issue thrown at him,or fabricated against him.

Hes Polarized this nation,for his actions.


Fast and Furious
NDAA
Obamacare
Jobs


The list is endless.

Then you get those who STILL believe hes doing a good Job?

Those are NOT Conservatives........Trust me.

Heard this claim for many years and as of yet

I have yet to see them ever prove it.

No Liberals are not more intelligent than conservatives.

I have to agree with the numerous Intelligent posts that recognize the whole divide and conquer game of the fraudulant left/right manufactured paradigm, and have come to realize the puppet on the right hand and the puppet on the left hand are connected to the body of the same puppets masters, at least as far as the top of the Pyramid goes.

Personally I find 'free thinking' types have the *type* of intelligence I can most relate to, but that is just a preference I likely have due not only to my life experiences but possibly to those select areas of my brain that genetics has provided me.

I assert again that while we can look at overall IQ tests, I find rather looking at individual areas of intelligence much more usefull, we all have areas we have been blessed with and areas that need work. All of us.