The Influence of Intelligence on Prejudice: A Double-Edged Sword

Intelligence and prejudice stand as two seemingly contradictory concepts. While one might assume that higher intelligence would naturally lead to fewer biases, recent studies offer a more nuanced and complex picture. This article delves into how intelligence, both in terms of measured IQ and self-perceived intelligence, influences prejudice.

Psychometric Intelligence and Prejudice

The relationship between higher psychometric intelligence and lower levels of prejudice has been consistently noted in various studies. A significant breakthrough came from a group of Belgian researchers who explored whether psychometric intelligence and self-assessed intelligence held the same or different links to racism. The findings confirmed that higher psychometric intelligence was associated with lower levels of racism. This was largely because more intelligent individuals tend to think about social groups in less crudely categorical ways, reducing the likelihood of prejudiced opinions.

However, this relationship changes when considering self-assessed intelligence. Individuals who rated their cognitive abilities higher than others were found to exhibit higher levels of racism. These individuals often perceive the social world as hierarchical, with superiority and inferiority at its core. This belief is linked to a high social dominance orientation, an anti-egalitarian ideology often associated with prejudice. Therefore, while intelligence can reduce group prejudice, the belief in one's superiority can paradoxically promote it.

Mental Assessments and Attitudinal Weakness

The Belgian study highlights the dual nature of intelligence when it comes to prejudice. Being intelligent understandably reduces group prejudice, but believing oneself to be superior can actually reflect and promote it. When individuals make assessments of their intelligence, they are not only gauging a cognitive strength but also possibly revealing an attitudinal weakness. This suggests that the relationship between intelligence and prejudice is more complex than a simple positive or negative correlation.

Changing Targets of Prejudice

Another study conducted on a sample of 5,000 individuals revealed a different but equally intriguing pattern. As people become more intelligent, they do not necessarily become less prejudiced; instead, they tend to change the targets of their prejudice towards those who they perceive as different from themselves. This finding is significant as it shows a shift rather than a reduction in prejudice levels.

Lower cognitive ability was associated with prejudice towards "low choice" groups, individuals who have little control over the fact that they are part of those groups. Conversely, higher cognitive ability was linked to prejudice towards "high choice" groups, where members have greater ability to opt in or out of the group. This finding replicates past work which suggests that people with lower levels of cognitive ability express more prejudice toward ethnic minorities, such as Blacks, Hispanics, Asian Americans, and LGBTQ individuals. On the other hand, those with higher cognitive ability may express more prejudice toward groups like Christian fundamentalists, big business Christians, the Tea Party, and the military.

The Power of Interaction

While the relationship between intelligence and prejudice may seem grim, hope is not entirely lost. A study indicated that merely interacting with a group one is not familiar with can significantly reduce prejudice towards them. This suggests that exposure and interaction can be powerful tools in combating prejudice, thereby offering a glimmer of optimism in the face of seemingly intractable biases.

These findings underscore the need for nuanced approaches to understanding and addressing prejudice. They also highlight the importance of fostering environments where individuals can engage with and learn from diverse communities.