A new study from Brock University suggests that a low IQ (or intelligence quotient) may be one of the root causes of racist or prejudiced views, as well as socially conservative politics. The study says that people who intensely fear change often embrace reactionary positions. The Huffington Post reports:

Are racists dumb? Do conservatives tend to be less intelligent than liberals? A provocative new study from Brock University in Ontario suggests the answer to both questions may be a qualified yes.

The study, published in Psychological Science, showed that people who score low on I.Q. tests in childhood are more likely to develop prejudiced beliefs and socially conservative politics in adulthood.

I.Q., or intelligence quotient, is a score determined by standardized tests, but whether the tests truly reveal intelligence remains a topic of hot debate among psychologists.

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