The link between intuitive thinking and social conservatism is stronger in WEIRD societies
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While previous studies reveal mixed findings on the relationship between analytic cognitive style (ACS) and right-wing (conservative) political orientation, the correlation is generally negative. However, most of these studies are based on Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) societies, and it is not clear whether this relationship is a cross-culturally stable phenomenon. In order to test cross-cultural generalizability of this finding, we re-analyzed the data collected by the Many Labs 2 Project from 30 politically diverse societies (N = 7,263). Social conservatism is measured with the binding foundations scale, comprising of loyalty (patriotism), authority (respect for traditions), and sanctity (respect for the sacred), as proposed by the moral foundations theory, while ACS is measured by the three-item modified cognitive reflection task. The level of WEIRDness of each country was calculated by scoring how much a culture is Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic. Although social conservatism is negatively associated with ACS in the aggregate, analysis indicates that the relationship is significantly stronger among WEIRD and remains negligible among non-WEIRD cultures. These findings show the cross-cultural variability of this relationship and emphasize the limitations of studying only WEIRD cultures.
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Samples were categorized as Western or non-Western using previously established geographical categorizations.
“Based on sample country or region, we categorized samples as Western or non-Western using previously established geographical categorizations [23,24].”
From Hasty generalizations and generics in medical research: A systematic review (2024) · cites this paper as [24]
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- Authors
- Yilmaz, O., & Alper, S.
- Affiliations
- Yaşar University (TR)
- ORCID
- Alper, Sinan
- Venue
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2019-03
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 156-169
- ISSN
- 1930-2975 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2947088318
- Cited by
- 27
- References
- 50
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4
- FWCI
- 2.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Judgment and Decision Making (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Cultural Differences and Values
- Keywords
- intuitive thinking, analytic cognitive style, social conservatism, right-wing political orientation, WEIRD societies, cross-cultural generalizability, moral foundations, binding foundations, cognitive reflection, patriotism, respect for authority
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