Most people agree that it would be great to know that politics understand what other people think, want, and feel.
A new study challenges this notion and suggests that gender, not politics, plays a more significant role in determining people's social skills.
Let's find out more.
Educated women understand people better
Psychologists from the University of Bath found that being female and educated were the primary factors influencing a person's ability to understand others.
The researchers examined qualities associated with understanding others, such as being agreeable, picking up on subtle cues, and self-reflection.
This ability, known as "theory of mind" in psychology, involves attributing mental states to others.
Older people understand others worse
While the study's findings represent averages, the researchers argue that it sheds light on the factors driving agreement and disagreement in public life.
Interestingly, age was only associated with understanding others later in life, as older individuals, on average, had a poorer ability to grasp other people's perspectives.
It's not connected with someone's political views
Contrary to popular belief, the study shows that a person's political beliefs are not linked to their ability to understand others.
To conduct the research, participants provided information about their background and political beliefs.
By considering multiple factors, such as gender, education, age, and politics together, the study reveals that gender is the most influential factor in understanding others.
