An examination of intellectualism and the Tall Poppy Syndrome in the Australian context: investigating attitudes towards scientists using a values framework and contextual information

The number of Australians leaving our shores for overseas sparked a number of political and media enquiries. Reasons put forward for this reported exodus included claims that highly skilled workers were leaving as a result of a peculiar cultural ideology which accounts for the suspicion of persons of high status or achievement, labelled The Tall Poppy Syndrome. This thesis reports three studies which examine the reasons why individuals might perceive the success of high achieving intellectuals in a negative way. It also examines the impact of existing theories of deservingness, values, anti-intellectualism, and the role of context on the perception of intellectual high achievers. Participants from both university and wider population samples took part in a pilot study (N = 25), two paper and pen vignette studies (N = 285; N = 194), and a combined national telephone and follow-up survey (N = 458). Overall these studies investigated attitudes towards intellectual high achievers, with a particular emphasis on scientists working in emerging scientific areas. Structural Equation Modelling and Multilevel Modelling were used to test a series of interrelated hypotheses that sought to establish whether: i) intellectuals were susceptible to aspects of the Tall Poppy Syndrome; ii) if values relating to intellectual activities and ideals were a better predictor of attitudes towards intellectual high achievers, such as scientists, when compared with a measure of generalised attitudes towards tall poppies; and iii) how information relating to a scientist’s intellectual motivations as well as the context that they work in influences attitudes towards them. Firstly, it was found that intellectual high achievers were quite distinct from nonintellectual high achievers as they were generally rated favourably on a set of personality and moral characteristics. The variation in positive attitudes across the two groups was significantly predicted by judgements relating to how the high achiever had attained their position (i.e., deservingness). Positive attitudes across the two groups of scientists were also associated with a need for intellectual stimulation which was in turn predicted by Conservation values. Support for the fall of tall poppies in general significantly and positively predicted a favourable attitude towards scientists in general also over and above that predicted by a positive attitude to the pursuit of intellectual activities. Finally, attitudes towards scientists working in emerging technologies differed significantly based on the type of science being carried out. It was found that attitudes towards scientists working in Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research were less favourable when compared to those working in Nanotechnology. However, there were no significant differences in attitudes across scientists based on their intellectual motivations, despite some significant two-way interactions and main effects demonstrating the importance of type of science, values and attitudes towards intellectual activities. It was concluded that judgements of intellectual high achievers such as scientists were not a product of the tall poppy syndrome, and that individual level predictors as well as contextual factors were important in determining public support for scientists working in emerging technologies. Moreover, scientists were distinct from a traditional tall poppy classification given they were perceived as hard working and deserving of their positions, and intellectual. The practical implications of the research included raising the awareness and value of the nation’s intellectual high achievers, promoting a greater level of trust in scientists carrying out complex emerging research, and promoting public support for science through the volunteering of time or services.