There May Be a Relationship Between Intelligence and How Not Racist You Are

The relationship between intelligence and racism is complex and multifaceted. Recent studies suggest that higher cognitive abilities may correlate with less overt racism, but the picture is not entirely straightforward. Here’s an in-depth look at the connection between intelligence and racial attitudes, drawing from various sources and perspectives.

Intelligence and Racial Stereotypes

A study profiled in the Washington Post found that individuals who score higher on intelligence tests are more likely to recognize racial discrimination and less likely to agree with negative racial stereotypes.¹ Specifically, 29% of high scorers described Black people as lazy, compared to 46% of low scorers. Similarly, 13% of high scorers viewed Black people as unintelligent, versus 23% of low scorers.

While higher intelligence correlates with less overt prejudice, it doesn’t necessarily translate to support for policies aimed at addressing racial inequality. The same study highlighted that despite recognizing racial discrimination, more intelligent individuals are not more likely to support affirmative action or economic redistribution policies. This phenomenon suggests a disconnect between acknowledging racial issues and supporting solutions to address them.

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The Principle-Policy Paradox

The principle-policy paradox refers to the inconsistency where individuals may support racial equality in principle but oppose policies designed to achieve it.² For instance, while a majority of high scorers (95%) agreed that Black and White children should attend the same schools, only 22% supported school busing programs designed to integrate schools.³

Geoffrey Wodtke, a sociologist at the University of Toronto, examined data spanning three decades and found that while high-ability (and intelligence) white people are less likely to report prejudicial attitudes, they are no more likely to support remedial policies for racial inequality.⁴ This pattern suggests that higher cognitive abilities might enable individuals to articulate a more refined ideology that rejects overt prejudice but still maintains the status quo.

The Role of Intelligence

Cognitive ability appears to affect support for various racial policies in distinct ways. Individuals with higher cognitive abilities tend to favor opportunity-enhancing policies, such as open housing laws and tax incentives for businesses in Black communities, more than they support policies like racial preferences in employment. This preference is likely rooted in a belief in individual rights and a perception that these policies pose less of a threat to resource access.

Despite more favorable views towards Black individuals, intelligence might better be seen in rationalizing privileged positions and less willing to support policies that could disrupt these privileges.⁵ As Wodtke notes, “More intelligent members of the dominant group are just better at legitimizing and protecting their privileged position”.

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The Complexity of Prejudice

Lori Brown, a sociology professor at Meredith College, explains that prejudice involves more than just intellectual beliefs; it includes emotional and psychological components. People may know that racial stereotypes are wrong but still hold prejudiced attitudes due to personal insecurities or ingrained biases.

Research suggests that intergroup contact, especially in cooperative and non-competitive settings, can effectively reduce prejudice. For example, military boot camps, where individuals of diverse backgrounds work together towards common goals, often result in reduced prejudiced attitudes.

Conclusion

The relationship between intelligence and racism is nuanced. Higher intelligence may correlate with less overt racism and a better understanding of racial issues, but it does not necessarily lead to support for policies aimed at addressing these issues. The principle-policy paradox highlights the complexity of racial attitudes and the challenges in achieving genuine racial equality. Addressing these deep-seated issues requires more than just intellectual agreement; it involves fostering genuine understanding, empathy, and structural changes to dismantle ingrained prejudices.

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