Higher education amplifies science rejection among politically conservative Americans

Evidence

In a large sample of 6,000 Americans, representative of the population, we find evidence of both accounts: if you were politically conservative, you were significantly less likely to acknowledge the scientific consensus on climate change (this is well known). However, importantly, if you were conservative and higher educated, you were even less likely to accept the scientific consensus! This evidence is in line with Dan Kahan’s motivated numeracy hypothesis. So, people do come to the table with prior motivations and political identities. — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof, 141

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader backfire-effect and motivated-reasoning literature (Nyhan, Kahan) the reader has been tracking across similar claims about disinformation and persuasion. — connects to: Greater scientific literacy widens political polarization on contested science rather than narrowing it — Sander van der Linden, Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects…, 133; Climate denial functions as a symbol-laden conservative culture war, not reasoned science debate — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement: How People Do Harm…, 2538; Public university education reduces authoritarianism through exposure to diversity — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 3832 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Climate denial functions as a symbol-laden conservative culture war, not reasoned science debate #expands (0.85) — Albert Bandura, Moral Disengagement, 2538
• University education lowers authoritarianism, most among high scorers #contradicts (0.82) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 1109
• Public university education reduces authoritarianism through exposure to diversity #contradicts (0.80) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 3832
• Ideology, not ignorance, drives culture-war knowledge gaps among religious conservatives #qualifies (0.72) — Philip S. Gorski and Samuel L. Perry, The Flag and the Cross, 116
• Universities undermine religious belief by inculcating analytic thinking #complicates (0.72) — Norenzayan, Ara, Big gods - how religion transformed…, 608