And
Generally the better educated are more prone to irrational political opinions and political hysteria than the worse educated far from power. Why? In the field of political opinion they are more driven by fashion, a gang mentality, and the desire to pose about moral and political questions all of which exacerbate cognitive biases, encourage groupthink, and reduce accuracy. Those on average incomes are less likely to express political views to send signals; political views are much less important for signalling to one’s immediate in-group when you are on 20k a year. The former tend to see such questions in more general and abstract terms, and are more insulated from immediate worries about money. The latter tend to see such questions in more concrete and specific terms and ask ‘how does this affect me?’. The former live amid the emotional waves that ripple around powerful and tightly linked self-reinforcing networks. These waves rarely permeate the barrier around insiders and touch others.
Something for LWers to think about. Being smart can make you more susceptible to some biases.
Being smart can make you more susceptible to some biases.
Agree but Dominic is making a much stronger claim in this excerpt, and I wish he would provide more evidence. It is a big claim that
These are great anecdotes but have there been any studies indicating a link between social status and willingness to express political views?