Men’s general intelligence is associated with better relationship investment and lower aversive behaviors, according to a study published in Personality and Individual Differences.
Past research shows that higher general intelligence (g) is associated with numerous positive life outcomes, such as academic success, better socioeconomic status, and lower likelihood of criminality. These studies also suggest that intelligence may play a role in romantic relationships. General intelligence has been linked to lower rates of divorce and higher chances of being married in mid-life, but the effects of intelligence on more nuanced relationship behaviors have not been as widely explored.
In their new study, Gavin S. Vance and colleagues examined how men’s intelligence related to behaviors such as partner-directed insults, sexual coercion, and relationship investment.
Their research builds on existing theories that intelligence could influence romantic relationship behaviors. Some past studies suggested that specific cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving and memory, can contribute to better conflict resolution between partners. For instance, people with strong working memory skills tend to recall their partner’s perspective during conflicts, helping to reduce the severity of relationship issues.
There is also evidence that intelligence supports self-regulation—potentially reducing harmful impulses in relationships. The researchers wanted to explore these ideas further, specifically focusing on men’s general intelligence and how it might predict both positive and negative relationship behaviors.
To examine these connections, the researchers recruited 202 men (age 18-65) in heterosexual relationships for at least six months. The average relationship length was 3.36 years. To assess general intelligence, the researchers used the 16-item International Cognitive Ability Resource (ICAR), which includes tasks from four subscales: letter-number series, matrix reasoning, verbal reasoning, and 3D rotation tasks. These tasks measured participants’ problem-solving abilities and abstract reasoning.
Participants also completed surveys designed to capture partner-directed behaviors, such as the frequency of partner-directed insults, sexual coercion, and cost-inflicting mate retention tactics. They further completed scales measuring jealousy, psychopathy, erectile dysfunction, and relationship investment, including satisfaction and commitment.
The researchers found that higher general intelligence was significantly associated with more positive behaviors and reduced negative behaviors in romantic relationships. Higher intelligence was associated with lower levels of partner-directed insults, sexual coercion, psychopathy, and the use of cost-inflicting mate retention strategies.
One notable aspect of the findings was the role of the letter-number series tasks within the intelligence test. Men’s performance on this subscale was a particularly strong predictor of both reduced negative behaviors and increased positive investment in the relationship. This task type, which emphasizes pattern recognition and sequential reasoning, may tap into cognitive skills that support impulse control, problem-solving, and the ability to think through consequences—all qualities that could contribute to healthier relationship dynamics.
Intelligence was also positively associated with more desirable relationship outcomes. Men with higher intelligence reported greater overall relationship investment, suggesting that intelligence might support a deeper, more consistent commitment to romantic relationships. These participants expressed higher levels of relationship satisfaction and were more likely to report that they prioritized maintaining their relationships, indicating that intelligence may play a role in fostering long-term, stable partnerships.
Interestingly, intelligence did not show significant associations with other variables, such as jealousy, partner-directed violence, or benefit-provisioning mate retention behaviors. This finding suggests that intelligence may specifically influence certain harmful behaviors and positive investments, rather than affecting all relationship dynamics across the board.
One limitation is the lack of control over the time participants took to complete the intelligence test, which may have influenced their scores. As well, the exploratory nature and correlational design prevent causal conclusions.
Despite these limitations, this research sheds new light on the potential role of intelligence in promoting healthy relationship behaviors, raising intriguing questions for future research. For example, studies could examine how these findings apply to women and whether similar associations between intelligence and relationship behaviors exist across different relationship types. Additionally, researchers could further investigate how specific components of intelligence impact relationship outcomes. This could help to clarify whether certain cognitive skills are more beneficial for relationship quality than others.
The research, “Men’s general intelligence and heterosexual romantic relationship outcomes”, was authored by Gavin S. Vance, Tara DeLecce, and Todd K. Shackelford.
