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1Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, 3720 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. baron@upenn.edu.
Journal of Intelligence
|June 5, 2019
Summary
Good citizenship requires intelligence, particularly actively open-minded thinking (AOT). This disposition is crucial for evaluating leaders and policies, promoting better governance and informed decision-making for societal progress.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Political Science
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- Global challenges often stem from governmental issues or deficiencies.
- Effective citizenship is linked to specific intellectual capacities and dispositions.
- Evaluating leaders and policies is essential for functional governance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose that dispositions, alongside capacities, are integral components of intelligence.
- To highlight actively open-minded thinking (AOT) as a critical disposition for good citizenship.
- To advocate for the application of AOT in assessing political candidates and authorities.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of intelligence, encompassing both cognitive capacities and dispositions.
- Definition and theoretical framing of actively open-minded thinking (AOT).
- Argumentation for the significance of AOT in civic engagement and leadership evaluation.
Main Results:
- Actively open-minded thinking (AOT) is identified as a key disposition for effective citizenship.
- AOT enhances the accuracy of conclusions and confidence judgments, mitigating overconfidence.
- The factors influencing AOT may differ from those affecting other intelligence components, suggesting unique developmental trajectories.
Conclusions:
- Intelligence relevant to good citizenship includes dispositions like AOT.
- AOT is vital for critically evaluating leaders and policies, fostering better governance.
- Increased cultivation and application of AOT are necessary for addressing contemporary societal and governmental problems.
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