Men with higher IQs are less conservative, study finds

New research suggests that gifted men are less conservative in their political views than men of average cognitive ability.

A study conducted in Germany found that men with higher IQs are less inclined to traditional values, but the lead author, psychologist and intelligence researcher Maximilian Krolo of Saarland University said the researchers did not find these differences among women.

The study was based on the Marburg Giftedness Project, for which more than 7,000 children in primary school were given IQ tests in the 1987/1988 school year. Around 150 children, or 2 per cent of them, were highly gifted.

Most of these people (107) were observed over many years in a longitudinal study together with a comparison group of people of average intelligence and were repeatedly asked about various topics, the author said.

“Now, more than 35 years later, we were able to ask this group of people questions about their political views,” said education researcher Jorn Sparfeldt, a professor at Germany’s Saarland University. He said 87 highly gifted adults and 71 adults of average ability responded, a response rate of just under 75 per cent.

According to the researchers, the study participants placed themselves politically on a left-to-right scale and completed a detailed questionnaire on political orientation. It covered four subject areas, including socialism and liberalism.