Researchers Find That Higher Intelligence Is Correlated With Left-Wing Beliefs

A provocative new study has uncovered a connection between left-wing beliefs and both higher intelligence quotient (IQ) scores and genetic markers associated with greater cognitive ability.

Key Findings from the Research

Psychology researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities report in their paper, published in the journal Intelligence, that multiple intelligence tests reveal a correlation between higher cognitive performance and a range of left-wing and liberal political beliefs.

“Our results,” the authors wrote, “imply that being genetically predisposed to be smarter causes left-wing beliefs.”

Why These Results Matter

Research on human intelligence is inherently complex. Different forms of intelligence exist, and separating genetic influences from environmental factors remains difficult—especially since education is known to boost IQ test scores. Nevertheless, the study’s methodology offers compelling insights.

Study Design and Methodology

The University of Minnesota team analyzed data from more than 200 families. Some families included only biological children, others only adopted children, and a smaller group had both. This mixed-family approach helped isolate genetic effects from shared upbringing.

“We find both IQ and genetic indicators of intelligence, known as polygenic scores, can help predict which of two siblings tends to be more liberal,” study author Tobias Edwards told PsyPost. “These are siblings with the same upbringing, who are raised under the same roof.”

He added: “This implies that intelligence is associated with political beliefs, not solely because of environment or upbringing, but rather that the genetic variation for intelligence may play a part in influencing our political differences. Why is this the case? I do not know.”

What Polygenic Scores Reveal

Using both measured IQ and polygenic scores—genetic profiles linked to cognitive performance and educational attainment—the researchers examined correlations with five political variables: political orientation, authoritarianism, egalitarianism, social liberalism, and fiscal conservatism.

The results showed that polygenic scores predicted social liberalism and lower authoritarianism within families. Measured intelligence also significantly predicted these same traits, even after controlling for socioeconomic factors.

Important Context and Limitations

Edwards emphasized that political beliefs are complex and shaped by historical and cultural contexts, not reducible to any single variable.

“This surprise highlights an important point; there is no law saying that intelligent people must always be supportive of particular beliefs or ideologies,” he told PsyPost. “The way our intelligence affects our beliefs is likely dependent upon our environment and culture. Looking back across history, we can see intelligent individuals have been attracted to all sorts of different and often contradictory ideas.”

He continued: “Intellectuals have flirted with and been seduced by dangerous ideologies and tyrannical regimes. Many smart people have believed ideas that are downright stupid. Because of this George Orwell doubted that the intelligence of partisans could be any guide to the quality of their beliefs, declaring that, ‘one has to belong to the intelligentsia to believe things like that: no ordinary man could be such a fool.’”