Science and politics may not seem to be linked closely together but a Yale University study offers some interesting insight on the link between the two. The study reveals that scientific knowledge can make a person more partisan.
Some people believe that scientific minds would be the key to help people come together. However, new research refutes this theory and reveals that people who are scientifically intelligent were the ones who sided with their political party's opinions.
Biased Assimilation
The study conducted by Dan Kahan uncovered a valuable fact about the link between intelligence and political parties. Based on the study, people tend to align themselves with the cultural values that their group identifies with.
In the case of political parties, people who scored higher on the science intelligence test are more likely to follow the bandwagon. To these people, their knowledge becomes useful in proving the point that their party wants to make.
People with high scientific intelligence are more prone to biased assimilation, the process where a person discredits or accepts ideas that reflect their party's stand. This link between science and politics is certainly an interesting one.
Irrespective of the type of party that a person belongs to, his or her thought pattern will support that of his party.
Science And Politics Are Related
One vital point that the Kahan's study makes is the observation that people tend to stay in line with the opinion of people on whom they depend on for "emotional and material support."
While the current study may seem grim, there is another study on "scientific curiosity" which offers some hope. According to Kahan's statement n Quartz, this study reveals that people who are curious are less likely to form partisan beliefs.
Curious people want to uphold their group's beliefs but their desire to find out the truth is greater. This reveals an unusual relationship between science and politics - curious individuals could be the ones to put an end to partisanship.
