It may seem a bit convenient coming from a group of highly trained scientists.
But researchers now say that nerds make better romantic partners than any muscular meathead.
In a new study, scientists from Oakland University claim that intelligent men have better relationship outcomes and are less likely to abuse their partners.
And, good news for nerds, the researchers even claim that smarter men are less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction.
The scientists tested the intelligence of men in heterosexual relationships and then quizzed them on a range of different positive or negative relationship characteristics.
They found that cognitive skills that support impulse control, problem solving, and thinking about consequences all contribute to healthier relationships.
On the other hand, men with lower intelligence are more prone to insulting their partners, sexual coercion, controlling behavior and erectile dysfunction.
Most disturbingly, the data suggests that men with lower general intelligence are more likely to have psychopathic tendencies.
Good news for nerds is that scientists say more intelligent men make better partners and are less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction (stock image)
Higher levels of intelligence are associated with a range of positive outcomes, ranging from higher average income to longer life expectancy.
Additionally, more recent research has shown that some specific cognitive skills, such as problem solving, help partners deal with potential difficulties within their relationships.
Dr. However, Gavin Vance and his colleagues at Oakland University argue that far less research has been done on how general intelligence affects relationship outcomes.
General intelligence, unlike your level of education or specific skills, refers to a mixed set of cognitive skills, including working memory, spatial reasoning, and quantitative reasoning.
To find out more, the researchers recruited 202 men who had been in a heterosexual relationship for at least six months.
The men were assigned a series of tasks to test their problem-solving and abstract reasoning skills.
They were then given questionnaires to measure aspects of their relationships, ranging from the frequency of negative behavior to relationship investment and satisfaction.
These tests showed that general intelligence was significantly associated with more positive behavior and less negative behavior in romantic relationships.
The study found that men who scored poorly on tests of general intelligence were more likely to have erectile dysfunction and exhibit negative behavior toward their partner (stock image)
For example, the researchers found that men who scored higher on the intelligence test were less likely to have ever insulted their partner.
Similarly, men with higher intelligence self-reported lower rates of abusive and controlling behavior.
Surprisingly, the researcher’s higher intelligence was also positively associated with a lower risk of erectile dysfunction.
Each of the study participants was asked a series of questions, such as ‘How often were you able to get an erection during sexual activity?’.
This showed that smarter men were less likely to have erectile dysfunction than more intelligent men.
Erectile dysfunction is a common condition that affects up to half of men over 40 and causes people to be unable to get or maintain an erection.
This can be caused by physiological factors such as fatigue or alcohol consumption, but mental factors can also play a role.
Previous studies have shown that aspects of a man’s personality or his tendency to lose focus or be distracted by worries, known as “cognitive interference,” can make erectile dysfunction more likely.
Likewise, experiencing erectile dysfunction can lead to worsening psychological effects, including depression, low self-esteem, and feelings of frustration or rejection.
The researchers note that there could be a link between erectile dysfunction and traits associated with lower intelligence, such as jealousy and violence.
However, they offer no explanation as to why this might be the case.
The positive effects of intelligence on relationship success were most pronounced in the results of the ‘letter number sequence task’.
During this test, participants read a series of numbers and letters and are asked to repeat the numbers in numerical order and the letters in alphabetical order.
Good performance on this task was not only a strong indicator of positive behavior, but was also associated with greater relationship satisfaction.
In their article, published in Personality and individual differenceswrite the researchers, “We observed associations between men’s performance on the Letter Number sequence items and variables that may be related to relationship quality, satisfaction, and commitment.”
This test, which assesses pattern recognition and sequential reasoning skills, could tap the cognitive skills underlying impulse control, problem solving and the ability to think about consequences.
Erectile dysfunction can have a physiological cause, but can also be caused by mental factors such as the individual’s personality traits or their susceptibility to losing focus or being distracted by worries (stock image)
The researchers point out that these are all skills that can help build a healthier relationship.
On the other hand, the data collected showed that men who scored lower on the intelligence tests also showed significantly more negative relationship characteristics.
Most worrying of all, those who scored lower on the tests of general intelligence and letter number spans were more likely to have psychopathic traits.
Within the context of a romantic partnership, these make men more likely to engage in controlling and abusive behavior.
The researchers write: ‘Psychopathic traits are positively associated with abuse in intimate relationships and a greater desire for power is associated with lower satisfaction, investment and commitment in romantic relationships.’