Monday, October 4, 2010

Are Liberals Smarter?

A recent study published in the March 2010 issue of the peer-reviewed scientific journal Social Psychology Quarterly, advances a new theory to explain why people form particular preferences and values. The theory suggests that more intelligent people are more likely than less intelligent people to adopt evolutionarily novel preferences and values. Meaning they go against what was in the past evolutionary important, move on and take advantage of novel entities and situations.

The study argues that that humans are evolutionarily designed to be conservative, caring mostly about their family and friends, and being liberal, caring about an indefinite number of genetically unrelated strangers they never meet or interact with, is evolutionarily novel. Since technology and ways of socializing have changed society drastically in the last century, we have major reasons to become ever more involved with and care about each other.

It's understandable to have a species able to adapt as quickly as possible in order to overcome evolutionary novel problems. We did this in those Caveman days against the Neanderthals, and look where we are today.

All this leads me to my next point. We are all connected toward the success of each other in the economy, yet at the same time divided by it. With our system based on the dog eat dog attitude, how are we as a society allowed to evolve and care for one another? What do you think?

What exactly is a Liberal? The Free Dictionary gives an apt one as tolerant of change; not bound by authoritarianism, orthodoxy, or tradition.

You can read the full article HERE

23 comments:

  1. I'm not sure if liberals are smarter overall, but as you explained, they care more for others, in which I recognize myself very well. Not so sure if I'm smarter than the rest tho.

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  2. realy enjoyed reading this
    looking forward for the next post
    also turn off your word verification

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  3. I'd prefer the golden mean between tradition & progress.

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  4. Interesting. I guess this is exemplified in that most colleges are flooded with liberals, both teachers and students. Whether the ideals work or not is up for debate, but I do believe that there are more well-educated liberals than conservatives out there.

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  5. hmmn.. some good points here =D

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  6. The only way to have a successful society is to implement a system where an individual pursues their passion and aspirations, it benefits everyone else.

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  7. awesome post, supporting :)

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  8. some interesting thoughts, but I think we're all doomed to an Idiocracy like future. Even as we advance our societal evolution through progressive liberal ideals. The fact is that less-educated people have more children than smart people. Genetic evolution is simply a game of numbers, so if your IQ is above 140 please go impregnate as many women as possible. Also, smart ladies start taking fertility pills and cranking out the triplets.

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  9. I find the whole Liberal/Conservative debate to be completely tiresome, personally.

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  10. this post made me think a lot, thanks!

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  11. interesting article vote ron paul :D

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  12. I think on average, liberals tend to be smarter, but there are definitely some idiotic liberals who are simply following the herd. Also, many conservatives are quite intellectual, especially in the Libertarian strain. :)

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  13. interesting article. i remember reading similar a few months ago, will see if i can find it.

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  14. Enjoyable and good read. Got some things to think about now.

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  15. liberals think they're smarter, america in general is dumb as hell though lol

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  16. great post keep up the good work

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  17. Too bad the way we see liberals are totally different in this world

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  18. Interesting post. I think it's a little presumptuous to state that a politcal pursuasion would dictate intelligence though. But still a thought provking article

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  19. I do not consider myself a follower I listen to what one has to say and then I make my own assesment on the issues at hand.. I consider myself a liberal. It's liberating ;)

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