[scotty79]

> As many other studies have shown, when children hear descriptions of categories, whether “apples are red” or “scientists are smart,” they infer that members of those categories have special, exclusive characteristics.

My friend in college had a mannerism that when he was about to give up on understanding something he was saying "it's for smart people to figure out". It always elicited visceral reaction from me "No, eff that. We are the smart people. We can figure this out."

I guess our upbringing was somewhat different.

[granshaw]

This is so common in the current anti-intellectual American mindset... other forms it takes:

  - I wouldn't know, X person is way smarter than me
  - (Try to discuss how something might work...) This was made by really smart people, I'll leave it to them!
  - (learns you're doing an Engineering degree) Wow, you must be really smart!
  - The "for science!!" trope

[onos]

That sounds more like “avoidance of personal engagement in intellectual pursuit” rather than anti-intellectual - if anything these suggest complete deference to supposed experts.

[hahaxdxd123]

Interesting. My impression of American anti-intellectualism is that it more often takes the opposite form:

"X person is by all measures more educated than me on this topic, but I did own research! (on Youtube and Facebook)"

[JamesianP]

I'd say it's a suspicion of the values and political agendas/biases of intellectuals as a social class.

I know professionals living in other countries who believe every silly conspiracy theory they see on youtube too. That part is a universal problem.

[granshaw]

That's a separate, more recent problem IMO. Mistrust of experts and lazy self-affirmation