Fresh research from the University of Bath proposes that individuals with higher cognitive ability were more inclined to vote “Remain” in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Interestingly, the cognitive skills of a person’s spouse also seem linked to their Brexit voting choices.

Previous associations have been drawn between higher cognitive ability and an increased ability to recognize and resist misinformation. Given the substantial amount of misinformation circulating prior to the Brexit vote, understanding the role of cognitive ability in voting decisions is crucial.

Behind the vote

The study delved into data from 3,183 heterosexual U.K. couples collected in the Understanding Society survey. By scrutinizing participants’ cognitive abilities measured through various tasks, the researchers established a significant connection between higher cognitive ability and voting “Remain.”

Notably, individuals with spouses possessing higher cognitive ability were also more likely to support “Remain.” In cases where spouses held conflicting views (one voting “Remain” and the other “Leave”), having notably higher cognitive ability increased the likelihood of voting to “Remain.”

The researchers speculate that misinformation may have complicated decision-making, particularly for individuals with lower cognitive ability. They emphasize the importance of finding ways to navigate such complexities, especially in the face of escalating misinformation.

“This study adds to existing academic evidence showing that low cognitive ability makes people more susceptible to misinformation and disinformation,” the authors conclude. “People with lower cognitive ability and analytical thinking skills find it harder to detect and discount this type of information.”