Cognitive ability was related to more affective prejudice towards relatively conservative groups; people with higher levels of cognitive ability were more in favor of freedom of speech for all groups

De keersmaecker, Jonas, Dries H. Bostyn, Alain Van Hiel, and Arne Roets. 2020. “Disliked but Free to Speak: Cognitive Ability Is Related to Supporting Freedom of Speech for Groups Across the Ideological Spectrum.” PsyArXiv. March 9. doi:10.31234/osf.io/b7kty

Abstract: Freedom of speech for all citizens is often considered as a cornerstone of democratic societies. In three studies, we examined the relationship between cognitive ability and support for freedom of speech for a variety of social groups across the ideological spectrum (N1 varies between 1373 and 18719, N2 = 298, N3 = 395). Corroborating our theoretical expectations, although cognitive ability was related to more affective prejudice towards relatively conservative groups, and less affective prejudice towards relatively liberal groups (Study 2), people with higher levels of cognitive ability were more in favor of freedom of speech for all target groups (Study 1 – 3). The relationship between cognitive ability and freedom of speech support was mediated by intellectual humility (pre-registered Study 3). These results indicate that, cognitive ability contributes to support for the democratic right of freedom of speech for all social-ideological groups.