No empirical link exists between thought complexity and policy soundness

Evidence

The ideologue hypothesis is in a better position to explain why extreme socialists and conservatives were less complex than their moderate socialist and conservative colleagues. Supporters of this position have long maintained that fundamental cognitive stylistic similarities exist between persons on the far left and the far right. However, the ideologue hypothesis is unable to explain another aspect of the results: the tendency for moderate socialists to be more integratively complex than moderate conservatives. As in earlier studies of United States senators (Tetlock, 1983a) and of non-elite samples (Neuman, 1981; Stone, 1980), why was the point of maximum complexity displaced to the left of center? — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2333 (#complicates, via linked claim)

An interesting portrait of the integratively complex politician emerges from the correlations between integrative complexity and several belief and attitudinal variables assessed in the Putnam research. The integratively complex politician tended (a) to be politically left of center, r(87)=−.30, p< . (although, as we have seen, the relation between the left-right continuum and complexity is curvilinear); (b) to de-emphasize the differences between the major political parties, r(87)=.29, p <.01; (c) to be tolerant of opposing viewpoints, r(87)=.52, p<.001; (d) to think about issues in nonideological terms, r(87)=.20, p=.05; and (e) to be unconcerned with assigning blame for societal problems, r(82)=.18, p=.05. In short, integrative complexity is associated with a pragmatic, open-minded, and nonpartisan world view. — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2327 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Structural complexity of thought is independent of ideological correctness; Integrative complexity measures cognitive structure, not ideological content or correctness — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2313; Integrative complexity correlates with left-of-center, tolerant, nonpartisan thinking — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2327 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Maximum cognitive complexity sits left of center in both elites and the public #complicates (0.82) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2333
• Integrative complexity correlates with left-of-center, tolerant, nonpartisan thinking #complicates (0.80) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2327