You know... That's a subject that I ponder about from time to time.. I don't see it as 'sheepish' at all, or that it has to do with intelligence but rather that people generally want to avoid pain, so when shame and guilt are attach to a subject..
Immediately many people stop thinking rationally, and let their instincts get hold, and then what happens? Their instincts want to avoid pain and so they dissociate with the subject and block their own critical thinking abilities.
Aside from politics, whenever there is something uncomfortable to think about, many people just avoid thinking about it completely to avoid discomfort.
Well, at least that's how I see it as of now and I may be wrong.
Thanks you by the way!