3 Signs of a high IQ, that we should heed in 2024…
Sunday, January 7, 2024. The first Nor’easter of the winter. My hilltop home is suffused in snow…
For the past 10 years or so, and even recently in this blog, I’ve expressed the opinion that intelligence is overvalued in American culture. I‘ve said that kindness and cooperation are more valuable human traits.
Recent research from Behavioral Economics suggests that I’m probably wrong here.
Intriguing recent research suggests that being cooperative is a sign of high intelligence. While the most intelligent humans tend to be cautious with their trust initially, they allow it to expand as they collect validating experiences.
Highly intelligent humans tend to be more cooperative, believe in teamwork, and be mutually supportive…
In addition, cooperative humans tend to be better at seeing the “big picture” and learning from experience.
Higher intelligence allows humans to process this vital “big picture” information more quickly.
All these factors are indications that a human’s IQ is considerably above average.
Professor Eugenio Proto, who led the study, said:
“People might naturally presume that people who are nice, conscientious and generous are automatically more cooperative.
But, through our research, we find overwhelming support for the idea that intelligence is the primary condition for a socially cohesive, cooperative society.
A good heart and good behavior have an effect too but it’s transitory and small.
An additional benefit of higher intelligence in our experiment, and likely in real life, is the ability to process information faster (this is fluid intelligence, a genetic gift from your mom), hence to accumulate more extensive experience, and to learn from it.
This scenario can be applied to the workplace, where it’s likely that intelligent people who see the bigger picture and work cooperatively, will ultimately be promoted and financially rewarded.”
How The Study Was Conducted
The researchers invited study subjects to play games that tested their cooperation.
Each involved gameplay was trading off the notion of risk against reward.
The results showed that more conscientious and agreeable humans also tended to be more cooperative.
However, here’s where I put the cart before the horse…the influence of these personality traits was dwarfed by that of IQ.
The study found that people with lower IQs tend not to use a consistent strategy and disregard the consequences of their actions.
The study’s authors elaborated on their findings through a Behavioral Economics lens:
“Higher intelligence resulted in significantly higher levels of cooperation and earnings.
The failure of individuals with lower intelligence to appropriately estimate the future consequences of current actions accounts for these difference in outcomes.
Personality also affects behavior, but in smaller measure, and with low persistence.”
Final Thoughts
When I reflect on what researchers are saying, I can’t help but see it through the lens of unfolding history
It seems that these researchers are telling us that it is high intelligence, especially fluid intelligence , and not a kind heart, which tends to promote courtesy, kindness and cooperation, because high intelligence can grok the “big picture” (central cohesion?), and make appropriate decisions which more successfully achieve preferred outcomes.
Professor Pronto’s research primarily focuses on Behavioral and Experimental Economics, with a keen interest in Intelligence, Personality, and Psychological well-being.
I’m giving this study a wide berth because Eugenio has published over 25 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious economic journals, including the Journal of Political Economy and the Review of Economics Studies, and in renowned scientific publications like the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science and Nature Human Behavior.
Yes, while it’s true that I’ve occasionally criticized social science research, which has emerged from the relatively new discipline of Behavioral Economics, I’m singing the praises of this study's direction and intent, as we need to learn more about the interplay of intelligence and personality.
In other words, let’s keep looking into this… I strongly feel this is the right question for the right time.
Here’s the deal. Half the world (4 billion humans) will elect governments in 2024.
What will happen if the dominant spirit of the age is illiberal brutalism? Perhaps it’s time for an argument that says being selfish, intentionally stupid, and self-absorbed is a super-highway to dubious outcomes.
What if Professor Pronto is correct? What if the personality traits of conscientiousness and agreeableness are sustained by the well-spring of high fluid intelligence?
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
RESEARCH:
Proto, Eugenio and Proto, Eugenio and Rustichini, Aldo and Sofianos, Andis, Intelligence, Personality and Gains from Cooperation in Repeated Interactions (December 1, 2017). CESifo Working Paper Series No. 6121, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2871144 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2871144
