The correlation does not predict low variation in intelligence, it merely predicts this variation should decrease over time.
IQ has been gaining a lot of importance in evolutionarily recent times, so that positive correlation (and the variation-decreasing trend it predicts) can only have been weaker than it is now.
How much, I could only guess. But intelligence is generally appreciated in potential mates, and that appreciation wouldn’t be there if smartness didn’t improve reproductive success, at least on average.
But intelligence is generally appreciated in potential mates
That depends. First, it depends on the sex (some males actually prefer dumb blondes) and second, females usually like successful males—while intelligence is clearly correlated with success, it’s just a correlate and a signal, not the terminal value itself.
Also, if the floor of survive-and-breed is lowered enough (as is the case in the developed countries), the evolutionary pressures to wash out low intelligence become much weaker.
We used static facial photographs of 40 men and 40 women to test the relationship between measured IQ, perceived intelligence, and facial shape. Both men and women were able to accurately evaluate the intelligence of men by viewing facial photographs. In addition to general intelligence, figural and fluid intelligence showed a significant relationship with perceived intelligence, but again, only in men. No relationship between perceived intelligence and IQ was found for women.
I’ve wondered whether successful “dumb blondes” are actually unintelligent, or pretending—beautiful blondes aren’t common, but they’re still up against a fair amount of competition.
I’ve wondered whether successful “dumb blondes” are actually unintelligent, or pretending
Don’t think it matters much here—the point is that there are guys who prefer not-smart women. If some women feel it necessary to pretend to be stupid, that just reinforces the point.
I’m not generalizing from one example. Intelligence is correlated with sense of humor, which is one of the most consistently named traits that make a potential mate attractive, especially a male. source
Everyone I’ve ever heard talk about the jock/nerd thing was a US nerd.
It’s also correlated with success, as Lumifer mentioned elsethread. I thought we were talking about the direct effects of intelligence itself—though, as gwern points out, that doesn’t make too much sense.
Everyone I’ve ever heard talk about the jock/nerd thing was a US nerd.
IME similar things also happen in Italy (with some differences) and Ireland. I’d guess anywhere people are made to study things they never need outside school by bad teachers, they will resent that and dislike people who can learn such things effortlessly and enjoy it. (Of course I wouldn’t expect that to happen as much in places like say Finland or Singapore.)
The correlation does not predict low variation in intelligence, it merely predicts this variation should decrease over time.
IQ has been gaining a lot of importance in evolutionarily recent times, so that positive correlation (and the variation-decreasing trend it predicts) can only have been weaker than it is now.
How much, I could only guess. But intelligence is generally appreciated in potential mates, and that appreciation wouldn’t be there if smartness didn’t improve reproductive success, at least on average.
That depends. First, it depends on the sex (some males actually prefer dumb blondes) and second, females usually like successful males—while intelligence is clearly correlated with success, it’s just a correlate and a signal, not the terminal value itself.
Also, if the floor of survive-and-breed is lowered enough (as is the case in the developed countries), the evolutionary pressures to wash out low intelligence become much weaker.
P.S.
LOL. Here is a study the abstract of which says:
I’ve wondered whether successful “dumb blondes” are actually unintelligent, or pretending—beautiful blondes aren’t common, but they’re still up against a fair amount of competition.
Don’t think it matters much here—the point is that there are guys who prefer not-smart women. If some women feel it necessary to pretend to be stupid, that just reinforces the point.
It might hint that men not caring about women’s intelligence doesn’t have a dysgenic effect.
For having kids with?
I think they would formulate it as “for bearing them kids”. Boys, preferably.
You might be generalizing from one example.
See also the stereotypical jock/nerd dichotomy.
I’m not generalizing from one example. Intelligence is correlated with sense of humor, which is one of the most consistently named traits that make a potential mate attractive, especially a male. source
Everyone I’ve ever heard talk about the jock/nerd thing was a US nerd.
It’s also correlated with success, as Lumifer mentioned elsethread. I thought we were talking about the direct effects of intelligence itself—though, as gwern points out, that doesn’t make too much sense.
IME similar things also happen in Italy (with some differences) and Ireland. I’d guess anywhere people are made to study things they never need outside school by bad teachers, they will resent that and dislike people who can learn such things effortlessly and enjoy it. (Of course I wouldn’t expect that to happen as much in places like say Finland or Singapore.)