Highlights
- General intelligence is associated with men's partner-directed behaviors.
- Higher intelligence is associated with less frequent use of partner-directed insults.
- Higher intelligence is positively associated with relationship investment.
- Fluid intelligence predicted men's aversive, partner-directed behaviors.
Abstract
Research has established that higher general intelligence is associated with a range of favorable life outcomes, including academic and workplace achievement, and socioeconomic status. Recent work also has explored the potential role of specific cognitive abilities in navigating romantic relationship problems, and mitigating undesirable relationship outcomes such as infidelity and partner-directed violence. Less research has investigated the associations between general intelligence and outcomes for romantic relationships. The present research analyzed data secured from a sample of heterosexual, partnered men (N = 202) to investigate associations between men's intelligence and several variables related to romantic relationship phenomena and functioning, including partner-directed insults, desire for power in intimate relationships, and erectile dysfunction. Results revealed that men's general intelligence, and in particular, their performance on letter number series items, was negatively associated with a range of aversive, partner-directed behaviors including insults, sexual coercion, and cost-inflicting mate retention tactics, as well as several individual difference variables including men's sociosexual orientation, erectile dysfunction, and psychopathy. Conversely, men's general intelligence was positively associated with their self-reported relationship investment.
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