It might seem a little convenient coming from a group of highly educated scientists.
But researchers now say that geeks make better romantic partners than any muscle-bound meathead.
In a new study, scientists from Oakland University claim that intelligent men have better relationship outcomes and are less likely to be abusive towards their partners.
And, in 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 surveyed them for a range of different positive or negative relationship traits.
They discovered that cognitive skills which 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 behaviour, and erectile dysfunction.
Most worryingly, the data suggests that men with lower general intelligence are more likely to have psychopathic tendencies.
In great news for nerds, scientists say that more intelligent men make better partners and have a lower chance of suffering from erectile dysfunction (stock image)
Higher levels of intelligence are associated with a range of positive outcomes ranging from higher average income to increased life expectancy.
Additionally, more recent research has shown that some specific cognitive skills like problem-solving help partners navigate potential difficulties within their relationships.
However, Dr Gavin Vance and his colleagues at Oakland University claim that there has been much less research into how general intelligence affects relationship outcomes.
General intelligence, unlike your educational level or specific skills, refers to a mixed set of cognitive abilities including working memory, spatial reasoning, and quantitative reasoning.
To learn more, the researchers recruited 202 men who had been in heterosexual relationships for at least six months.
The men were assigned a series of tasks to test their problem-solving and abstract reasoning capabilities.
They were then given questionnaires to measure aspects of their relationships ranging from the frequency of negative behaviours to relationship investment and satisfaction.
These tests revealed that general intelligence was significantly associated with more positive behaviours and fewer negative behaviours in romantic relationships.
The study found that men who scored poorly on tests for general intelligence were more likely to experience erectile dysfunction and to exhibit negative behaviour towards their partner (stock image)
For example, the researchers found that men who scored higher on the intelligence test were less likely to have insulted their partner at any point.
Likewise, men with higher intelligence self-reported lower rates of abusive and controlling behaviours.
Surprisingly, the researcher’s higher intelligence was also positively associated with a lower risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction.
Each of the participants in the study was asked a series of questions such as ‘How often were you able to get an erection during sexual activity?’.
This revealed that smarter men were less likely to experience erectile dysfunction than more intelligent men.
Erectile dysfunction is a common condition which affects up to half of men above 40 in which people are unable to get or maintain an erection.
This can be caused by physiological factors such as tiredness or alcohol consumption but mental factors can also play a role.
Previous studies have shown that aspects of a man’s personality or their 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 deteriorating psychological effects including depression, low self-esteem, and feelings of frustration or rejection.
The researchers note there could be a connection between erectile dysfunction and traits associated with lower intelligence such as jealousy and violence.
However, they do not offer an explanation for why this might be the case.
The positive effects of intelligence on relationship success were most pronounced in the results of the ‘letter number series task’.
During this test, participants are read a series of numbers and letters and asked to repeat the numbers in numerical order and the letters in alphabetical order.
A good performance in this task was not only a strong indicator of positive behaviours but was also linked to increased relationship satisfaction.
In their paper, published in Personality and Individual Differences, the researchers write: ‘We did observe associations between men’s performance on Letter Number series items and variables that may be related to relationship quality, satisfaction, and commitment.’
This test, which captures pattern recognition and sequential reasoning abilities, could tap into the cognitive skills which underwrite impulse control, problem-solving, and the ability to think through consequences.
Erectile dysfunction can have a physiological cause but can also be triggered by mental factors such as the individual’s personality traits or their susceptibility to losing focus or becoming distracted by worries (stock image)
The researchers point out that these are all skills which could contribute to building a healthier relationship.
On the other hand, the data collected showed that men who ranked lower on the intelligence tests also displayed significantly more negative relationship traits.
Most worrying of all, those who ranked lower on the general intelligence and letter number series tests 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 behaviour.
The researchers write: ‘Psychopathic traits are positively associated with abusive behaviors in intimate relationships and greater desire for power is associated with lower satisfaction, investment, and commitment in romantic relationships.’
