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IQ and the values of nations
1Department of Management, London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, UK.
Journal of Biosocial Science
|March 24, 2009
Summary
Higher average intelligence in populations correlates with increased liberalism, atheism, and monogamy. This suggests intelligence influences the adoption of evolutionarily novel values and preferences.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Evolutionary Psychology
Background:
- The origin of values and preferences remains a key theoretical question.
- The Savanna-IQ Interaction Hypothesis proposes a link between general intelligence and the adoption of specific values.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between average population intelligence and the espousal of evolutionarily novel values.
- To test the Savanna-IQ Interaction Hypothesis using macro-level data.
Main Methods:
- Macro-level analyses were conducted on national data.
- Examined correlations between average intelligence and indicators of liberalism, religiosity, and monogamy.
Main Results:
- Nations with higher average intelligence exhibit greater liberalism (higher marginal tax rates, lower income inequality).
- Higher average intelligence is associated with lower levels of religiosity (belief in God).
- Population intelligence is the strongest predictor of liberalism, atheism, and monogamy.
Conclusions:
- Average population intelligence is a significant predictor of societal values.
- Intelligence appears to influence the adoption of evolutionarily novel values like liberalism, atheism, and monogamy.
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