Is it true that smart people like judging people?

[WORLD] It might come as a surprise, but one of the drawbacks of having a sharp mind is an increased tendency to stereotype others. While you’d expect intelligence and cultural awareness to guard against snap judgments based on appearance, new research suggests otherwise. In fact, smarter individuals may be even more likely to fall into the trap of stereotyping. That’s the conclusion of a recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.

Lead author David Lick, a postdoctoral researcher in NYU’s Department of Psychology, explains: “Superior cognitive abilities are often linked to positive outcomes, like academic success and social mobility. But our research reveals a downside—specifically, that individuals skilled at detecting patterns are also more inclined to quickly learn and apply social stereotypes.”

The study involved over 1,200 participants across six online experiments. In one test, participants viewed a series of male faces paired with behavioral descriptions. Some facial features—like a broad nose—were deliberately associated with negative traits. Later, participants played a trust game involving avatars with similar facial features. Despite no direct link to the earlier exercise, participants were less likely to trust and share money with avatars that resembled the negatively associated faces.

These results point to a fundamental element of human cognition: the brain’s inclination to recognize patterns and make quick judgments. While this mental shortcut is useful in many settings, it also paves the way for stereotyping. The research emphasizes that even individuals with advanced cognitive skills aren’t immune to such biases.

Crucially, the study highlights how the same pattern recognition ability that fuels stereotyping can also be redirected. When participants were exposed to new, stereotype-defying information, they showed a measurable reduction in their biased thinking. For example, participants initially exposed to traditional gender stereotypes—such as men being dominant and women being submissive—were later shown counter-stereotypical pairings. After this exposure, many updated their views, showing less reliance on the original stereotypes.

“This ability to revise preconceived notions in light of new evidence is encouraging,” said co-author Jonathan Freeman, PhD, assistant professor at NYU’s Department of Psychology and Center for Neural Science. “Cognitive flexibility, a key trait of high intelligence, can be harnessed to challenge and reduce stereotypes.”

The researchers suggest that understanding how pattern detection influences bias can help shape interventions in schools, workplaces, and other diverse environments. By tapping into this cognitive trait, it's possible to encourage more equitable attitudes and behaviors.

“People with better pattern detection abilities are at greater risk of picking up and applying stereotypes about social groups,” Lick told EurekAlert. “But the hopeful message in our findings is that those same individuals are also more responsive to new information that challenges their biases.”

The broader implications of this study resonate in a world increasingly focused on inclusion and equality. As society works to combat discrimination, insights into the cognitive roots of bias can guide the development of tools and strategies to foster understanding and fairness—especially among those most capable of change.

Feeling like you judge people too quickly? Understanding how your brain works might be the first step in learning how to stop.