Extremist brains perform poorly in complex mental tasks and analysis shows that

  • harmonea
    link
    fedilink
    21
    edit-2
    2 years ago

    Link to the study since the article didn’t bother.

    I think this is the one anyway. Seems like it points to “cognitive inflexibility” rather than the interpreted version of “performs poorly,” so I’m not sure if this is just the journalist stirring up shit with an inflammatory headline (oh my word how unheard of) or there’s another study I couldn’t find.

    • Machinist3359
      link
      fedilink
      92 years ago

      I agree the journalist and arguably the researchers themselves are representing these results poorly.

      Participants across the studies were evaluated on their likely hood to die for the in-group or kill the outgroup. The groups in question appear to be nationality. So “Extreme ideology” is better read as “extreme nationalism” imho.

      The finding is, as you said, more rigid cognition. Less lateral thinking. Not “extremists are dumb”, which is a feel good line that undermines the threat of certain extremists.

      • harmonea
        link
        fedilink
        42 years ago

        I really want to give the benefit of the doubt and assume there was a followup study with the things the article brings into the discussion: liberal vs conservative thought patterns, or cognitive inflexibility correlating to poor analytical ability.

        But I have no idea and wasn’t invested enough to do more than google “zmigrod extremism study” honestly.

    • May
      link
      fedilink
      2
      edit-2
      2 years ago

      I dont get why articles would cite a study and not even put it there. I mean i get it bc i guess some ppl who do that they might be trying to lie about the study and hope no one looks but it isnt nice