Political, but not cognitive sophistication was associated with an heightened propensity for motivated reasoning, the bending of the evidence to defend the preconceived world view; so, in the end, the problem is being infected with the political virus!

 On the Independent Roles of Cognitive & Political Sophistication: Variation Across Attitudinal Objects. Joseph A. Vitriol,Joseph Sandor,Robert Vidigal,Christina Farhart. Applied Cognitive Psychology, November 29 2022. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.4022

Abstract: People are motivated to maintain consistency between importantly held identities, preferences, and judgments. In political contexts, motivated reasoning can help explain a wide range of political phenomena, including extremism, polarization, and misperceptions. However, recent findings in psychology have challenged this account. These perspectives emphasize the role of cognitive sophistication (e.g., analytical reasoning, numerical literacy) in political attitudes, but differ in terms of whether it is expected to attenuate or exacerbate politically motivated reasoning and belief in conspiracy theories. Yet prior investigations have not examined the relative and independent effects of both political and cognitive sophistication. Using data from two samples, including one sampled to approximate representativeness in the U.S., we demonstrate that both types of sophistication have independent and (at times) countervailing effects on belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories and other political attitudes. Our results are critical for theories of cognitive sophistication, political cognition, and attitudes, and the psychology of conspiracy theories.