Intelligent men make better boyfriends, study finds
Intelligent men may be more likely to remain faithful to their partners because of their ability to solve problems and spot patterns, according to a new study.
While not exactly the most romantic of feelings, the analysis showed that the most stable boyfriends were more likely to be able to decipher patterns in strings of numbers and letters.
The findings come from a new study conducted by Oakland University that analyzed 202 heterosexual men, each of whom had been in a relationship for at least six months.
Researchers have found that men who have a certain type of intelligence and score higher on certain tests generally live healthier romantic lives and express greater commitment to their partners.
They were also less likely to show jealousy, insult their partners, and resort to “partner protection” tactics, behaviors that make it costly for a partner to leave the relationship.
These men were found to be less tempted to take risks outside their relationships, less likely to report erectile dysfunction problems and less psychopathic tendencies.
The study’s authors suggest that men with a certain level of intelligence have a psychological profile more compatible with being faithful, although they are careful not to overstate the results, given that they did not directly measure infidelity.
The study, led by data analyst and social scientist Gavin Vance, was published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, and the team behind it suggested the results were worth pursuing with further analysis.
They emphasized that the report’s findings were modest and could not prove cause and effect, and that the conclusions were based on what the men said about their own behavior.
A similar study published by the University of Sydney earlier this year similarly found that couples in which male partners demonstrated high emotional intelligence experienced greater satisfaction, deeper trust and better conflict resolution.
In the murky world of online dating and appearance-based apps, this may be an indication that intelligence may be the path to a happy, healthy relationship.
