Cognitive simplicity does not directly cause support for fascist genocide.

Evidence

However, it is wrong to assume that simple cognitive style leads directly to support for fascism, for the Holocaust, or even for any kind of oppressive at­ titude (Suedfeld, 1992). Depending on the circumstances, either simple or complex thinking can lead to decisions that are optimal, appropriate, and moral—or the opposite. For example, in pre–Civil War debates on slavery, both Southern sympathizers and radical abolitionists showed less complex thinking than did the advocates of gradual emancipation (Tetlock, Armor, & Peterson, 1994); and, among people with somewhat prejudicial attitudes, higher need for cognition is associated with the perception that acts of racial discrimination by others are rational and justified (Khan & Lambert, 2001). These and similar results suggest that it is worth reexamining the tacit assump­ tion that simple cognitive style was a causal factor in the Nazi genocide. — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide, 471

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the reader’s existing work on why extreme outgroup hostility arises from identity threat rather than low cognitive complexity; this undercuts the ‘authoritarian simple thinker’ account. — connects to: Classification and symbolization alone do not cause genocide — Gregory H. Stanton, Ten Stages of Genocide, 11; Racism and fascism do not track ignorance or stupidity — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 2529; Fascism exploits psychological tendencies rather than being caused by them. — Theodor W. Adorno, The Culture Industry: Selected Essays…, 206 (+2 more)
• QUESTION: If simple cognitive style isn’t the cause, what dispositional or situational variable actually mediates fascism support? Worth chasing against the Glick chapter’s competence-threat model.

Broader Connections

• Fascism exploits psychological tendencies rather than being caused by them. #expands (0.90) — Theodor W. Adorno, The Culture Industry, 206
• Racism and fascism do not track ignorance or stupidity #corroborates (0.85) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 2529
• Totalitarian mass support comes neither from ignorance nor from brainwashing. #corroborates (0.85) — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1944
• Prejudice is neither necessary nor sufficient for genocide #corroborates (0.80) — Zygmunt Bauman, Modernity and the Holocaust, 702