Study links men’s higher intelligence to fewer abusive relationship behaviors

A new study published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences shows that men with higher general intelligence are less likely to engage in abusive or coercive behaviors toward their romantic partners. The findings suggest that cognitive ability may play a role in how men manage conflict and commitment in heterosexual relationships.

General intelligence is a broad mental capacity that influences reasoning, planning, and problem-solving. Psychology research has long established that people with higher general intelligence tend to experience better life outcomes. They generally achieve higher levels of education and earn more money. They also tend to live longer and suffer from fewer health issues.

But the relationship between intelligence and romantic success is less clear. Some data suggests that intelligent people are less likely to divorce. Other studies indicate they may have sex less frequently or choose to have fewer children. Evolutionary psychologists have debated why this might be the case.

One prominent theory suggests that general intelligence evolved to help humans solve novel problems. Finding a mate is an ancient problem that humans have faced for thousands of years. This theory posits that intelligence does not necessarily provide an advantage in domains that are evolutionarily familiar, such as mating.

A competing perspective focuses on relationship maintenance. This view suggests that maintaining a relationship requires solving complex problems. Couples must navigate disagreements and manage their emotions. Cognitive abilities like working memory can help individuals process information during a conflict. This allows them to respond more constructively.

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The researchers behind the new study aimed to test these competing ideas. They sought to determine if intelligence predicts specific negative or positive relationship behaviors.

“We had originally collected this data as part of a larger study investigating the relationship between men’s experience with erectile dysfunction, and their behaviors in romantic relationships,” said study author Gavin S. Vance, who conducted the research with colleagues at Oakland University.

“However, as we also collected intelligence data, and because very little research has looked at potential links between intelligence and romantic relationship outcomes, we thought we had a unique opportunity to provide some tentative insights regarding this potential link.”

The research team recruited 202 men to participate in the study. These participants were in heterosexual relationships that had lasted for at least six months. The men were recruited through an online platform called Prolific. The average age of the participants was approximately 25 years old. The average length of their current relationships was roughly three and a half years.

The researchers assessed general intelligence using a tool called the International Cognitive Ability Resource (ICAR). This test is designed to measure different types of cognitive skills. It includes 16 items divided into four categories.

The first category consisted of letter and number series questions. These items ask participants to identify the next position in a sequence. This measures fluid reasoning, which is the ability to solve new problems without relying on previously learned knowledge.

The second category involved matrix reasoning. Participants viewed a grid of geometric shapes with one shape missing. They had to identify which option completed the pattern.

The third category tested verbal reasoning. These questions presented logic puzzles and general reasoning problems.

The fourth category measured three-dimensional rotation skills. Participants looked at images of cubes and had to determine how the cube would look if it were rotated in space.

After completing the cognitive tests, the men answered a series of questionnaires about their relationship behaviors. One questionnaire measured partner-directed insults. Participants reported how often they had verbally attacked their partner. Items included statements like “I told my partner that she is fat” or other derogatory comments.

Another measure assessed sexual coercion. This scale asked men how often they had pressured their partner to have sex against her will. The study also measured mate retention tactics. These are behaviors used to prevent a partner from leaving the relationship.

Mate retention behaviors can be positive or negative. Benefit-provisioning behaviors involve doing nice things, like buying gifts. Cost-inflicting behaviors involve negative actions, like checking up on a partner’s whereabouts or making them feel guilty.

The researchers also measured the participants’ desire for power within the relationship. Other variables included erectile dysfunction, psychopathic personality traits, and overall relationship investment.

The results showed a consistent pattern regarding negative behaviors. Men who scored higher on the general intelligence test were less likely to report using insults against their partners. They were also less likely to report using sexual coercion.

The study found a negative association between intelligence and cost-inflicting mate retention behaviors. This means that men with higher cognitive ability were less likely to use manipulation or monitoring to keep their partners.

These men also reported lower levels of psychopathy. Psychopathy is a personality trait characterized by a lack of empathy and impulsive behavior. The data also showed a link between higher intelligence and better sexual functioning. Men with higher cognitive scores reported lower rates of erectile dysfunction.

The researchers found positive associations as well. Men with higher general intelligence reported greater investment in their relationships. They expressed higher levels of commitment and satisfaction. They also felt they had better alternatives to their current relationship, yet they remained committed.

The study analyzed which specific parts of the intelligence test drove these results. The letter and number series tasks were the strongest predictors. Performance on these specific items was uniquely associated with fewer negative behaviors and greater relationship investment. This subtest is a strong measure of fluid intelligence.

Fluid intelligence allows people to think clearly in the moment. It helps individuals spot patterns and suppress impulsive reactions. The authors suggest that this ability may help men navigate relationship problems without resorting to aggression.

A man with lower fluid intelligence might struggle to process a conflict with his partner. He might become frustrated more easily. This frustration could lead to maladaptive behaviors like insults or coercion. A man with higher fluid intelligence might be better equipped to manage his emotions and find constructive solutions.

“Some of the other outlets that have written about this study (e.g., The Independent, Vice) use attention grabbing headlines like ‘intelligent men make better boyfriends,’ but I think this is slightly misleading,” Vance told PsyPost.

“We only found that men who scored higher on the ICAR less frequently used partner-directed insults, sexual coercion, etc., which I would argue is a low bar for being a ‘good boyfriend.’ Rather, I think the main takeaway here is that more intelligent men may be better at navigating relationship difficulties without resorting to physical/sexual/verbal aggression.”

There are limitations to this study that provide context for the findings. The research relied entirely on self-reported data. Participants described their own behaviors. Men may underreport negative actions like sexual coercion or physical aggression due to social desirability. They may not want to admit to abusive behavior.

“This was a correlational study, with a modest sample, so results should be interpreted with a grain of salt,” Vance noted. “Our findings may indicate that higher intelligence facilitates better romantic relationship outcomes, but we currently have no evidence of any causal relationship.”

Future research could address these gaps by including both partners in the study. Collecting data from both members of a couple would provide a more accurate picture of the relationship. Researchers could also use observational methods to see how couples solve problems in real time. This would reduce the reliance on self-reports.

The study, “Men’s general intelligence and heterosexual romantic relationship outcomes,” was authored by Gavin S. Vance, Tara DeLecce, and Todd K. Shackelford.