File photo, Fox News logo. (photo: Fox News)
Satire
09 December 12
tudy
shows that the Americans who watch Fox News have an average IQ of 80,
whereas the national average is 100. Researchers were not "shocked" by
findings.The results of a 4 year study show that Americans who obtain their news from Fox News channel have an average IQ of 80, which represents a 20 point deficit when compared to the U.S. national average of 100. IQ, or intelligence quotient, is the international standard of assessing intelligence.
Researchers at The Intelligence Institute, a
conservative non-profit group, tested 5,000 people using a series of
tests that measure everything from cognitive aptitude to common sense
and found that people who identified themselves as Fox News viewers and
'conservative' had, on average, significantly lower intelligent
quotients. Fox Viewers represented 2,650 members of the test group.
One test involved showing subjects a series of images
and measuring their vitals, namely pulse rate and blood pressure. The
self-identified conservatives' vitals increased over 35% when shown
complex or shocking images. The image that caused the most stress was a
poorly edited picture of President Obama standing next to a "ghostly"
image of a child holding a tarantula.
Test subjects who received their news from other
outlets or reported they do not watch the news scored an average IQ of
104, compared to 80 for Fox News viewers.
Lead researcher, P. Nichols, explains, "Less intelligent animals rely on instinct when confronted by something which they do not understand. This is an ancient survival reaction all animals, including humans, exhibit. It's a very simple phenomenon, really; think about a dog being afraid of a vacuum cleaner. He doesn't know what a vacuum is or if it may harm him, so he becomes agitated and barks at it. Less intelligent humans do the same thing. Concepts that are too complex for them to understand, may frighten or anger them."
He continues, "Fox News' content is presented at an
elementary school level and plays directly into the fears of the less
educated and less intelligent."
The researchers said that an IQ of 80 is well above
the score of 70, which is where psychiatrists diagnose mental
retardation. P. Nichols says an IQ of 80 will not limit anyone's ability
to lead happy, fulfilling lives.
The study did not conclude if Fox News contributed to lowering IQ or if it attracts less intelligent humans.
P. Nichols concludes that he wasn't shocked by the
studies' results, rather how dramatic their range. "Several previous
studies show that self-identified conservatives are less intelligent
than self-identified moderates. We have never seen such a homogeneous
group teetering so close to special needs levels."
See Also: Study Finds Fox News Viewers Least Informed of All ViewersReader Comments
+52
#
2012-12-09 14:55
Am I the only person
surprised that Fox viewers have IQs 20 point below the US average? I
expected them to be a lot dumber than that! :-D
+18
#
2012-12-09 16:50
just another reason
why the "lowest common denominator" approach characteristic of today's
business & media is a total failure. Stoopid peopl rool!!
-8
#
2012-12-09 17:44
Don't worry about the
ill effects of these dum dums voting. Voting is not of any meaning---it
is all a dog and pony show to entertain the dum dums and make them
think they have some effect on anything. The bad thing is that these
people will not join the major demonstrations that are needed to change
this rotten government. These fools are so dumh they support our corrupt
federal
officials.
officials.
+6
#
2012-12-10 12:47
Want--cynical and
false. Voting put Obama in the White House. A few more "dum dums" voting
could have put Romney in the White House--so don't tell me "voting is
not of any meaning . . ."
