Abstract Reasoning as a Predictor of Attitudes Toward Gay Men

Abstract

This study examined the hypothesis that participants scoring lowest on a measure of abstract reasoning skills would have the highest levels of anti-gay prejudice. It was further hypothesized that abstract reasoning scores would account for variance in prejudice beyond that accounted for by previously established correlates of attitudes toward gay men: sex of the respondent (men being more prejudiced than women), contact with gay people (less contact being associated with higher prejudice), and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA; positively correlating with prejudice). It was also expected that abstract reasoning skills would be negatively correlated with RWA. The results supported each hypothesis. The predictor most strongly related to anti-gay prejudice was RWA, followed by contact with gay people, abstract reasoning skills, and sex of the respondent.

Cognitive Ability and the Demand for Redistribution

“…If political preferences vary by ability, implemented policies may therefore be skewed in favor of the cognitively able. Although intelligence indeed is negatively correlated with general attitudes such as expressing racist opinions [3] – [5] , or prejudice towards homosexuals [3] , [6] there is little work on the relation between cognitive ability and preferences over actual policies. In this study, we ask whether individuals of higher cognitive ability demand more or less redistribution of income between citizens in society, compared to those of lower ability.…”

The Association of Cognitive Ability with Right–Wing Ideological Attitudes and Prejudice: A Meta–Analytic Review

“…Costello & Hodson, ) and among university student samples (e.g. Choma et al, ; Keiller, ) where education levels are largely equivalent across participants. In sum, whereas education and SES might, to some extent, explain the relationship between cognitive ability and right‐wing ideological attitudes and prejudice, it cannot serve as a single and exhaustive explanation.…”

“…Other studies recently focused on prejudice expressed towards specific out‐groups. Keiller () reported that abstract reasoning is negatively related to prejudice against homosexuals. Costello and Hodson () found that White children who are more able to comprehend hierarchical relations among objects (e.g.…”

“…Second, whereas Van Hiel et al only examined relationships with ethnocentrism as an indicator of prejudice, we also included studies that administered other indicators of prejudice (e.g. Costello & Hodson, ; Keiller, ).…”

Liberals and conservatives can show similarities in negativity bias

“…Yet empirical evidence reveals negative associations between cognitive ability and conservatism (e.g., Kanazawa 2010, Studies 1-2;Kemmelmeier 2008;Sidanius 1985;Stankov 2009) or rightwing authoritarianism (Keiller 2010;McCourt et al 1999). Particularly compelling are discoveries that poorer cognitive abilities in childhood predict stronger endorsement of social conservative values or conservative self-identification in adulthood (e.g., Block & Block 2006;Deary et al 2008;Fraley et al 2012).…”