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Study Links Low Intelligence to Belief in Pseudoscience

5/9/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A recent meta-analysis in Applied Cognitive Psychology reveals a striking connection: individuals with lower cognitive abilities and a strong belief in intuition are more likely to embrace pseudo-profound statements. Analyzing 46 experiments involving over 13,600 participants from the U.S. and Canada, the study highlights the link between susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs and diminished cognitive reflection, paving the way for future research on assessment tools and cultural impacts.

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Story summary

A recent meta-analysis in Applied Cognitive Psychology reveals a striking connection: individuals with lower cognitive abilities and a strong belief in intuition are more likely to embrace pseudo-profound statements. Analyzing 46 experiments involving over 13,600 participants from the U.S. and Canada, the study highlights the link between susceptibility to conspiracy beliefs and diminished cognitive reflection, paving the way for future research on assessment tools and cultural impacts.