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Predicting political beliefs with polygenic scores for cognitive performance and educational attainment

Author

Listed:
  • Edwards, Tobias
  • Giannelis, Alexandros
  • Willoughby, Emily A.
  • Lee, James J.

Abstract

Intelligence is correlated with a range of left-wing and liberal political beliefs. This may suggest intelligence directly alters our political views. Alternatively, the association may be confounded or mediated by socioeconomic and environmental factors. We studied the effect of intelligence within a sample of over 300 biological and adoptive families, using both measured IQ and polygenic scores for cognitive performance and educational attainment. We found both IQ and polygenic scores significantly predicted all six of our political scales. Polygenic scores predicted social liberalism and lower authoritarianism, within-families. Intelligence was able to significantly predict social liberalism and lower authoritarianism, within families, even after controlling for socioeconomic variables. Our findings may provide the strongest causal inference to date of intelligence directly affecting political beliefs.

Suggested Citation

  • Edwards, Tobias & Giannelis, Alexandros & Willoughby, Emily A. & Lee, James J., 2024. "Predicting political beliefs with polygenic scores for cognitive performance and educational attainment," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intell:v:104:y:2024:i:c:s0160289624000254
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2024.101831
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    1. Edwards, Tobias & Dawes, Christopher T. & Willoughby, Emily A. & McGue, Matt & Lee, James J., 2025. "More than g: Verbal and performance IQ as predictors of socio-political attitudes," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    2. Zakharin, Michael & Bates, Timothy C., 2025. "Higher cognitive ability linked to weaker moral foundations in UK adults," Intelligence, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).

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